Abstract
Two-dimensional MXenes have emerged as promising candidates for advanced lubricant additives, owing to their distinctive surface chemistry and exceptional tribological performance. Nevertheless, their incorporation into lubricant formulations remains challenging due to dispersion stability and complex interactions with conventional additives. This study systematically evaluates the tribological behaviour of Mo2TiC2Tx MXene-based additive systems combined with glycerol monooleate (GMO) and low concentrations of zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) under boundary lubrication conditions using a TE77 reciprocating tribometer. The formulated oil demonstrated marked reductions in friction and wear relative to base oil formulations. High-resolution SEM and HRTEM analyses of wear tracks revealed the formation of robust, multilayered tribofilms enriched with MXene-derived elements, supporting beneficial interactions between Mo2TiC2Tx MXenes and conventional additives at the sliding interface. These findings underscore the potential of MXene–GMO–ZDDP combinations to deliver superior tribological performance whilst providing a pathway to reduce phosphorus and sulfur content in lubricant systems, in line with emerging environmental and regulatory requirements.
