The geometrical microstructure together with the chemical composition of the surface governs the wettability of solid
surfaces, which is very important in the study of nanoadhesion and nanofriction properties of surfaces. Multiply alkylated
cyclopentane (MAC), a novel hydrocarbon mobile lubricant, was deposited on silicon by a dip-coating method. In
order to investigate the influence of the surface microstructures on the wettability of MACs, silicon substrates were treated
by different cleaning and etching processes. Measurements of an atomic force microscope and a contact angle meter indicate that the wettabilities of MACs on the hydroxylated silicon and the hydrogenated silicon are better than the wettability on the cleaned silicon, and that superiority is mainly caused by topological structure changes of the surface. Furthermore, the nanoadhesion and nanofriction properties were investigated. The different behaviors in adhesion and friction forces are due to the different surface energies of these silicon substrates