Interlayer Registry Determines the Sliding Potential of Layered Metal   Dichalcogenides: The case of 2H-MoS2
  We provide a simple and intuitive explanation for the interlayer sliding energy landscape of metal dichalcogenides. Based on the recently introduced registry index (RI) concept, we define a purely geometrical parameter which quantifies the degree of interlayer commensurability in the layered phase of molybdenum disulphide (2HMoS2). A direct relation between the sliding energy landscape and the corresponding interlayer registry surface of 2H-MoS2 is discovered thus marking the registry index as a computationally efficient means for studying the tribology of complex nanoscale material interfaces in the wearless friction regime. 
Adi Blumberg, Uri Keshet, Inbal Zaltsman, and Oded Hod
cond-mat.mtrl-sci cond-mat.mes-hall physics.chem-ph physics.comp-ph