Fabrication of nanocomposite supramolecular oleogel lubricant incorporating functionalized Ti₃C₂T_x MXene for enhanced anti-wear and friction reduction

MXenes possess low interlayer shear stress, high mechanical strength and tunable structure, making them highly effective in enhancing low-friction and wear-resistant properties in lubrication systems. However, their application as oil-based lubricant additive is limited by poor dispersion stability in base oils. In this work, a nanocomposite supramolecular oleogel with three-dimensional network structure was prepared by integrating functionalized MXene with urea-based gelator. The MXene nanosheets were modified by 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-(3- octadecylureido) propanoic acid (DOPA) and then effectively encapsulated within the supramolecular gel network, significantly reducing agglomeration and ensuring stable dispersion in base oil PAO10 for over five months. The resulting DOPA@MXene oleogel (DOPA@MXene Gel) exhibited good lubrication performance, with the average friction coefficient decreased from 0.168 to 0.102 and the wear volume exhibited an 81.83 % decrease compared to base oil. Additionally, the load-carrying capacity of DOPA@MXene Gel was enhanced to from 50 N to 450 N. These improvements are attributed to the synergistic interaction between DOPA@MXene and the oleogel, which collaboratively form a complex protective film during friction. This study offers an effective strategy for improving the dispersion of MXene-based lubricant additive and achieving superior tribological properties.