INTERCEPT-ME · INTERCalation Effects on Friction Properties of Two-dimensional (2D) Materials - MXene

Efficient lubrication continues to be a critical technological challenge, with profound economic and environmental consequences. Friction and wear are responsible for nearly 23% of global energy consumption each year, resulting in economic losses of approximately €2.5 trillion worldwide. To address this, the development of high-performance lubricants based on emerging two-dimensional (2D) materials is essential, with MXenes, a family of 2D transition metal carbides and nitrides, offering significant advantages. MXenes exhibit outstanding properties, including ultra-low friction, superlubricity under extreme conditions, and remarkable mechanical strength. Their distinctive surface chemistry and ability to intercalate a wide range of molecular species enable tunable tribological performance, facilitating efficient friction reduction. Despite their potential, major scientific gaps hinder the rational design of MXene-based lubricants. The fundamental mechanisms by which intercalated molecules influence friction, energy dissipation, tribochemical reactions, and interlayer sliding dynamics remain largely unexplored. Current studies predominantly rely on empirical approaches or macroscale tribometry, lacking detailed nanoscale insights and quantitative structure-property relationships specific to MXenes. Additionally, the time-dependent tribochemical evolution at buried interfaces during sliding is poorly understood. This proposal seeks to overcome these limitations through a comprehensive multi-scale investigation, integrating real-time spectroscopic monitoring, nanoscale friction measurements, and reactive molecular dynamics simulations. The main objectives are to uncover the atomic-level mechanisms of intercalant behavior, establish clear structure-property relationships. The expected outcome is a significant advancement in sustainable, high-performance lubricants tailored for critical applications such as engine and gear lubrication systems.