Solid lubrication performance of Ti2CTx coatings with reduced friction and extended durability

MXene research in tribology has predominantly focused on Ti 3 C 2 T x , overlooking the untapped potential of other promising MXenes with equally intriguing properties. Thus, to enhance tribological reliability in industrial applications, Ti 2 CT x coatings were applied to 316 stainless steel as a solid lubricant. Using a linear ball-on-disk tribometer under 460 MPa pressure, we found that Ti 2 CT x coatings reduced friction by 82% and wear rate by 70% compared to uncoated steel. Advanced characterizations showed that this improved tribology is linked to nanostructured carbon-rich protective tribofilms resulting from the contact pressure-induced graphitization of Ti 2 CT x MXenes sheets. Our research comprehensively elucidates the tribological effectiveness of multi-layer Ti 2 CT x , which is pivotal to design advanced lubricants for contemporary mechanical applications.