Simple method for preparing nanometer thick Ti3C2TX sheets towards highly efficient lubrication and wear resistance

Abstract

MXene, as a two-dimensional material with excellent properties, has been applied in many fields. However, there is little attention paid to the preparation methods of MXene nanosheets. Herein, we report a novel and simple method for preparing Ti3C2TX nanosheets by using alternate pressure (AP)assisted, where the yield can achieve 42.4% and the thickness of nanosheet is about 2 nm. Moreover, the presence of hydrophilic functional groups on the surface made Ti3C2TX suitable to be used as water lubricating additives, which displays highly efficient lubrication (~34.74%) and wear resistance (~45.58%) ability compared with pure water. Our work provides not only a new strategy to yield Ti3C2TX nanosheets, but also an exploration of their tribological behaviors as water lubrication nanoadditive.