Tribo-induced catalytically active oxide surfaces enabling the formation of the durable and high-performance carbon-based tribofilms

Carbon-containing tribofilms have attracted significant interest in the lubrication research despite a scarcity of information on their high-temperature performance under severe boundary conditions. In this study, carbon tribofilm produced from cyclopropane carboxylic acid (CPCa) and NiAl-layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanoparticles was evaluated. NiAl-LDH significantly enhanced friction stability antiwear CPCa by over 90% at 50°C 100°C, comparable to benchmark zinc dialkyldithiophosphates (ZDDPs). The highly graphitic amorphous fine-grain intermediate tribolayer constructed thermal decomposition products contributed such excellent performance. This study paves pathway developing functional anti-wear additives for durable high-performance carbon-containing high temperatures.