Fabrication of two-dimensional MXene nanosheets loading Cu nanoparticles as lubricant additives for friction and wear reduction

Herein, the MXene@Cu nanocomposites were prepared via electrostatic adsorption of Cu2+ and then in-situ reduction. The Cu2+ is uploaded on the surface of MXene nanosheets via electrostatic adsorption, which was followed by in-situ reduction with NaBH4 to obtain Cu nanoparticle attached MXene (MXene@Cu) hybrids. The results revealed that the friction coefficient of MXene@Cu decrease from 0.434 to 0.110 and the wear volume loss decreased by 88.1% via changing the loading amount of Cu nanoparticles. The excellent tribological per-formance of MXene@Cu is attributed to the synergistic effect of MXene nanosheets and Cu nanoparticle, which can adsorb on the surface of friction pair and induce tribochemical reaction. A stable protective film is formed on the worn surface, thereby reducing fiction and wear.

Automated summary

In this study, MXene@Cu nanocomposites were prepared by electrostatic adsorption and in-situ reduction. The MXene nanosheets successfully adsorbed Cu2+ and then underwent in-situ reduction to form Cu nanoparticle attached MXene hybrids. The MXene@Cu exhibited excellent tribological performance, reducing friction coefficient and wear volume loss. This can be attributed to the synergistic effect of MXene nanosheets and Cu nanoparticles, which form a stable protective film on the worn surface.