Fabrication of N, P Co-Doped Carbon Aerogel Microspheres via Ionic Liquids as Dopant Source for Enhanced Lubrication Performance

The inherent chemical inertness of carbon aerogel microspheres (CAMs) limits their effectiveness in tribological applications. To address this, ionic liquids─rich in active elements─are employed as the dopant source to synthesize heteroatom (N, P)-codoped CAMs with microporous structure via a one-step pyrolysis method. The resulting N, P@CAMs-2, when added to 500SN base oil, significantly improved its tribological properties: the friction coefficient decreased to 0.107, the corresponding wear volume was reduced by 60.74%, and the load-bearing capacity increased from 150 to 300 N. Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses revealed that the improved lubrication performance stems from the active participation of N and P in tribochemical reactions, leading to the formation of a stable protective film. The combined effects of adsorption, repair, and polishing contribute to substantial wear reduction.