Ti3C2Tx quantum dots as high-performance additive in lubrication application

Abstract

The research on Ti3C2Tx as a liquid lubricating additive is still in its infancy, and some problems exist, such as ambiguous relationship between Ti3C2Tx structure and lubricating performance. Herein, Ti3C2Tx was adjusted to improve its tribological properties in polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG200). Hydrothermal method was employed to prepare spherical Ti3C2Tx quantum dots (MQDs), with size of approximately 6 nm. The additive of MQDs significantly improved the tribological properties of pure PEG200, where the average friction coefficient was reduced by 20.0 % and the wear volume was reduced by 69.1 %. MQDs can provide a rolling effect to reduce the friction and repair the worn interfaces by forming an adsorption film through electrostatic adsorption, thereby effectively improving the tribological behaviors of sliding interfaces.