Electric Potential Controlled Ionic Lubrication

Abstract

Electric potential controlled lubrication, also known as triboelectrochemistry or electrotunable tribology, is an emerging field to regulate the friction, wear, and lubrication performance under charge distribution on the solid–liquid interfaces through an applied electric potential, allowing to achieve superlubrication. Electric potential controlled lubrication is of great significance for smart tunable lubrication, micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), and key components in high-end mechanical equipment such as gears and bearings, etc. However, there needs to be a more theoretical understanding of the electric potential controlled lubrication between micro- and macro-scale conditions. For example, the synergistic contribution of the adsorption/desorption process and the electrochemical reaction process has not been well understood, and there exists a significant gap between the theoretical research and applications of electric potential controlled lubrication. Here, we provide an overview of this emerging field, from introducing its theoretical background to the advantages and characteristics of different experimental configurations (including universal mechanical tribometers, atomic force microscopes, and surface force apparatus/balances) for electric potential controlled lubrication. Next, we review the main experimental achievements in the performance and mechanisms of electrotunable lubrication, especially using ionic lubricants, including electrolyte solutions, ionic liquids, and surfactants. This review aims to survey the literature on electric potential controlled lubrication and provide insights into the design of superlubricants and intelligent lubrication systems for various applications.