Single-atom catalysts as high-efficiency lubricant additives for wear mitigation in alkane environments

In order to extend the life of mechanical parts, the most severe challenge is to minimize surface wear exposed to mechanical shear stress. The tribological tests were conducted under lubrication with tetradecane base oil using Fe and Co-based single-atom catalysts (SACs) as lubricating additives. The results indicate that, under a load of 2 N, using base oil containing 0.05 wt% SACs leads to an average friction coefficient approximately 60% lower and the wear rate by two orders of magnitude as comparing with tetradecane alone. XPS and Raman analysis of the wear scar revealed the in situ formation of a carbon-based tribofilms at the sliding interface during sliding. The research findings hold significant implications and provide valuable references for broadening the application range of metal single-atom catalysts, as well as for further elucidating the tribocatalysis mechanism in liquid alkane environments.

Graphical abstract