Enhancing tribocorrosion resistance of VCoNi alloys in artificial seawater via nitrogen alloying

The demand for tribocorrosion-resistant equipment has driven extensive research into advanced materials. Utilizing electrochemical measurements and density-functional theory (DFT) calculations, this study systematically elucidates nitrogen alloying's role in enhancing tribocorrosion resistance of VCoNi MPEAs in artificial seawater. The results demonstrate that increasing N enhances VCoNiN's tribocorrosion performance due to stronger nitrogen-metal bonding, which leads to a decrease in the electronic work function, and competitive adsorption between O and Cl. Specifically, N-alloying strengthens O bonding while reducing the detrimental effects of Cl adsorption. This work provides novel insights into optimizing the tribocorrosion resistance of MPEAs by clarifying the critical role of N in modifying the electronic structure.