Surface functionalized-MoS2 nanofluids as high temperature lubricant additives

Project Information

SmartLube

Grant agreement ID: 886055

DOI

10.3030/886055

Project closed

EC signature date 3 March 2020

Start date 12 October 2020

End date 9 December 2022

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 224 933,76

EU contribution

€ 224 933,76

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SmartLube (Surface functionalized-MoS2 nanofluids as high temperature lubricant additives)

Reporting period: 2020-10-12 to 2022-10-11

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Growing environmental concerns in the backdrop of evolving efficiency and emission standards have motivated efforts to replace traditional friction reducing and anti-wear additives, including zinc dialkyldithiophosphates (ZDDP), molybdenum dithiocarbamate (MoDTC) with more environmentally benign alternatives such as ionic liquids (ILs) and inorganic nanoparticles (NPs). With the miniaturization of mechanical components, the surface-to-volume ratio ever increases in modern technology. The durability and safe operation of devices becomes increasingly dependent on efficient lubrication between moving parts. Development of sustainable and effective lubricant and lubricating additives is thus of significant societal and economic importance. The overall objectives of this project were to design, synthesize, characterise and evaluate novel lubricant additives that are also sustainable and adaptable to different applications.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Three types of novel in situ formed ionic liquids (ILs) with excellent solubility and stability in water, hydrocarbon oils, and fluorinated oils, respectively, have been developed and fully characterised. The structures of these ILs at the solid-air and solid-liquid interfaces have been evaluated and correlated with their self-assembled structure in the solution. The interfacial friction behavior of the ILs in aqueous media or oil have been evaluated by the surface force apparatus (SFA). The results indicated that the in situ formed ILs formed robust boundary layers on the negatively charged surface and also dramatically reduced the friction. These unprecedented results demonstrate the potential of these new ILs as effective friction reducing additives.
In addition, preparation of polysaccharide-modified MoS2 nanoparticles (FNPs) was undertake using a facile ball milling method and their application as tribological additive in glycerol was evaluated, demonstrating the capacity for such sustainably-fabricated functional nanoparticles for tribofillm formation.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The development of the novel ILs and FNPs go beyond of the state-of-the-art: The molecular architectures of the ILS had not been previously reported; the synthesis methods for both ILs and FNPs are facile and sustainable; their tribological performances have been evaluated for the first time, demonstrating their promising potential in real world applications.
The results have been widely disseminated to academic audience and potential industrial partners through a variety of mechanisms, including seminars, group meetings, invited talks at other institutes, conference presentations, and project meetings with partners. Two manuscripts have been prepared and refined for submission. A patent application is being actively explored based on the results of the novel ILs. The fellow has also interacted synergistically with the host group, learning and developing new experimental and scientific skills and transferring his knowledge and expertise in tribology to collaborating students and research fellows.
The efforts to exploit the results from the project and to initiate collaboration with industrial partners have led to the award of an EPSRC Impact Acceleration Award to exploit potential application of these additives in industrial lubricant formulation, and a 3-year Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship for the MSCA-IF Dr Wu.

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