MXenes in tribology: Current status and perspectives

MXenes are an emerging class of new two-dimensional materials, which have been widely used in energy storage, catalysis, sensing, biology, and other fields due to their unique structure and properties. The distinct structure, low shear resistance, and easy-to-modify ability endow MXenes with particularly superior lubrication potentials. This review highlights the research status and applications of MXenes lubrication categorized into solid lubricants, lubricant additives, and reinforcement phase parts, summaries the influencing factors and lubrication mechanisms of MXenes lubrication, points out some unexplored research fields and unsettled questions, and then puts forwards possible solutions and prospects for the future research. The lubrication advances and potentials of MXenes are fully verified. Predictably, the emerging MXenes lubricants will exhibit remarkable application prospects in advanced manufacturing such as machining industries, automotive industries, micro/nano-electromechanical systems, and spacecraft components.