Abstract
The solid lubricant MoS2 demonstrates excellent lubricating properties, but it spontaneously oxidizes and absorbs moisture in air, and thus results in poor wear resistance and short wear-life. In this study, the additive g-C3N4 (CN) was successfully combined with MoS2 via hydrothermal synthesis as a solid lubricant for the first time. Meanwhile, a low friction coefficient (COF, μ = 0.031) and ultra-long wear-life of CN/MoS2 compared to pure MoS2 in air were demonstrated. The functional groups and good crystallinity of the lubricant material were characterized via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The formed valence states in CN/MoS2 were analyzed via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The characterized results of the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) show the morphology and interior crystal phase structure of CN/MoS2. From the cross-section analysis, the presence of iron oxide nanoparticles lubricating film is synergistic with CN/MoS2 film during the friction process, resulting in its ultra-long wear-life. In particular, the friction mechanism of interlayer sliding friction combined with energy storage friction was analyzed and proposed.
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Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. U1637204, 41663012, 51775537, and 51775533), the program of the Light of the Chinese Academy of Science in China’s Western Region (2015), and the Chinese Academy of Science and its Youth Innovation Promotion Association (2016368) for financial support.
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Yupeng ZHANG. He obtained his bachelor in chemical and pharmaceutical from Chengdu University of Technology in 2014. He received a master degree in chemical engineering from North Minzu University, in 2020. He is currently studying the lubrication mechanism of 2D nanomaterials in the wear and surface engineering research group at Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (LICP-CAS), China.
Panpan LI. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate at LICP-CAS. She received her bachelor in Qufu Normal University and majored in chemistry. Then she was admitted to wear and surface engineering research group at LICP-CAS in 2016. Now, her ongoing research focuses on the macroscale lubrication mechanism of graphene and other 2D nanomaterials.
Xiaohong LIU. She is an associate researcher and master supervisor in LICP-CAS. In 2006, she obtained her Ph.D. degree from LICP-CAS. Her research areas cover basic and application research of solid lubrication, wear-resistant, and protective film/coating materials.
Li JI. He is a researcher and doctoral supervisor in LICP-CAS. In 2009, he obtained his Ph.D. degree from LICP-CAS. His research interests include basic and application research of physical vapor deposition (PVD)/chemical vapor deposition (CVD) solid lubrication, wear-resistant, and protective film/coating materials.
Hongqi WAN. He is an associate researcher and master supervisor in LICP-CAS. In 2008, he obtained his Ph.D. degree from LICP-CAS. He primarily engaged in the research of solid lubricating coating materials and surface engineering technology.
Lei CHEN. He is a researcher and doctoral supervisor in LICP-CAS. In 2006, he obtained his Ph.D. degree from LICP-CAS. His research interests include special adhesives and functional coating materials.
Hongxuan LI. He is a researcher and doctoral supervisor in LICP-CAS. In 2005, he obtained his Ph.D. degree from LICP-CAS. He is a deputy director of Advanced Lubrication and Protective Materials Research and Development Center, deputy leader of the wear and surface engineering research group in LICP-CAS. His research areas cover the high-tech application research work of high-performance lubrication, wear-resistant, and protective surface engineering new materials and technologies.
Zhiliang JIN. He is a researcher and doctoral supervisor in the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, North Minzu University. He is the director of the Key Laboratory of Chemical Technology Foundation of the National Civil Affairs Commission, director of the Ningxia Key Laboratory of Solar Chemical Conversion Technology. In 2006, he obtained his Ph.D. degree from LICP-CAS. His research directions primarily include clean energy (photocatalytic water splitting to H2), environmental chemical industry, and cultural heritage protection.
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Zhang, Y., Li, P., Ji, L. et al. Tribological properties of MoS2 coating for ultra-long wear-life and low coefficient of friction combined with additive g-C3N4 in air. Friction 9, 789–801 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40544-020-0374-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40544-020-0374-3