Fabrication of Ti3C2 MXene and tetradecylphosphonic acid@MXene and their excellent friction-reduction and anti-wear performance as lubricant additives

MXene is a kind of two-dimensional material with a graphene-like structure. However, the low productivity and oil solubility of MXene limit its use as a lubricant additive. Herein, a simplified strategy for exfoliating multilayer-MXene via water-molecules-assisted intercalation approach is proposed. MXene and tetradecylphos-phonic acid (TDPA)@MXene sheets were prepared as lubricant oil additives by chemical etching and surface modification with TDPA. The as-prepared additives added to PAO8 ensured friction-reduction and wear resis-tance at contact pressures less than 1.4 GPa, which was attributed to the iron-oxide and FePO4 tribochemical reaction film and lower interlaminar shear between the MXene layers. This study presents methods for improving the productivity and functional applications of MXene, enriching the existing research on MXene as a lubricant additive.

Automated summary

This study proposes a simplified strategy for exfoliating multilayer-MXene via water-molecules-assisted intercalation approach, thereby limiting its use as a lubricant additive. MXene and tetradecylphosphonic acid (TDPA)@MXene sheets were prepared as lubricant oil additives by chemical etching and surface modification. The as-prepared additives added to PAO8 showed reduced friction and wear resistance at contact pressures less than 1.4 GPa, attributed to the iron-oxide and FePO4 tribochemical reaction film and lower interlaminar shear between the MXene layers.