© Edoardo Marquis

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have emerged as promising solid lubricants thanks to their remarkable ability to reduce friction and wear within specific operating windows. However, tribological systems are inherently complex, involving numerous variables such as the nature of the contacting materials, surface roughness, load, sliding velocity, environmental composition, temperature, and humidity. As a result, the practical use of solid lubricants remains limited, and systematic strategies are needed to define and expand their operational ranges.

Building on our extensive experience in solid lubrication, we aim to optimize the performance of 2D materials and extend their applicability to technologically relevant conditions. This effort involves multiple approaches, such as tailoring the surface terminations of MXene layers, modifying the mechanical properties of flakes prior to deposition, or developing advanced coating preparation strategies. By fine tuning these parameters, we aim to design materials and processes that not only perform under narrow sets of conditions but rather maintain high efficiency across diverse and demanding environments.

Achieving this goal requires a multidisciplinary effort that integrates concepts from physics, chemistry, and materials science with mechanical and chemical engineering. Our group is ideally positioned to pursue this direction thanks to its broad range of expertise and strong network of collaborations with leading researchers worldwide. Among them is Prof. Michael Naguib (Tulane University, School of Science and Engineering), whose pioneering work on MXenes and Transition Metal Carbo-Chalcogenides (TMCCs) has significantly advanced the development of new generations of 2D materials for tribological applications, and Prof. Volker Presser (Saarland University, Materials Science and Engineering Department; Saarland Center for Energy Materials and Sustainability; INM – Leibniz Institute for New Materials).