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.