High-temperature solid lubrication applications of Transition Metal Dichalcogenides (TMDCs) MX2: A review
Mohan Li, Quan Zhou, Mingmei Cao, Zheng Zhou, Xiaoying Liu
Abstract
With the rapid advancement of science and technology, along with an increasing global focus on space exploration, there is a growing concern for addressing friction and wear issues in surface coatings for components operating in high-temperature environments within the aerospace sector. However, typical high-temperature coatings currently face challenges in effectively integrating excellent oxidation resistance, wear resistance, and lubrication properties in high-temperature settings. Studies have demonstrated the significant potential of Transition Metal Dichalcogenides (TMDCs) as lubricant additives in high-temperature lubrication, attributable to their distinctive crystal structures. Thus, this review concentrates on the compositional design of individual MX2-type (M = W, Mo, Nb, Ta; X = S, Se) TMDCs (molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), tungsten disulfide (WS2), niobium diselenide (NbSe2), molybdenum diselenide (MoSe2), tungsten diselenide (WSe2)) and their composites, including inorganic oxygen-containing sulfides, and explores the utilization of TMDCs in self-lubricating coatings. Furthermore, conventional preparation methods (mechanical exfoliation, liquid-phase ultrasonic exfoliation, chemical vapour deposition) for synthesizing TMDCs are outlined. Finally, an analysis of the lubrication mechanism of MX2-type TMDCs is provided, along with future directions for enhancing the high-temperature lubrication performance of composite coatings.