Fabrication of two-dimensional MXene nanosheets loading Cu nanoparticles as lubricant additives for friction and wear reduction

Herein, the MXene@Cu nanocomposites were prepared via electrostatic adsorption of Cu²⁺ and then in-situ reduction. The Cu²⁺ is uploaded on the surface of MXene nanosheets via electrostatic adsorption, which was followed by in-situ reduction with NaBH₄ to obtain Cu nanoparticle attached MXene (MXene@Cu) hybrids. The results revealed that the friction coefficient of MXene@Cu decrease from 0.434 to 0.110 and the wear volume loss decreased by 88.1% via changing the loading amount of Cu nanoparticles. The excellent tribological performance of MXene@Cu is attributed to the synergistic effect of MXene nanosheets and Cu nanoparticle, which can adsorb on the surface of friction pair and induce tribochemical reaction. A stable protective film is formed on the worn surface, thereby reducing fiction and wear.