Enhancing irradiation tolerance and inducing superlubricity in MoS2/W multilayer film exposed to atomic oxygen
Abstract Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is a ubiquitous lubricant for use in outer space. Here, we present a MoS2/W nano-multilayer film engineered through precise structural optimization by fine-tuning sputtering parameters. This architecture, featuring alternating metallic W layers and highly oriente...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Communications Materials |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-025-00884-2 |
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| author | Xin Fan Wenhao He Zhenao Zhang Bo He Yanwen Lin Qinsheng He Liang-Feng Huang Siming Ren Zhibin Lu Jibin Pu Qunji Xue |
| author_facet | Xin Fan Wenhao He Zhenao Zhang Bo He Yanwen Lin Qinsheng He Liang-Feng Huang Siming Ren Zhibin Lu Jibin Pu Qunji Xue |
| author_sort | Xin Fan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is a ubiquitous lubricant for use in outer space. Here, we present a MoS2/W nano-multilayer film engineered through precise structural optimization by fine-tuning sputtering parameters. This architecture, featuring alternating metallic W layers and highly oriented MoS2 layers, restricts oxidation depth to less than 25 nm (2.7×1021 atoms·cm−2)—just one-23rd of that observed in composite structure—outperforming previously reported space lubricants. Intriguingly, the metal oxide nanoparticles formed during atomic oxygen irradiation further reduce friction, enabling robust superlubricity with a friction coefficient of ~0.008. Our approach, bolstered by theoretical calculations and experiments, elucidates that this achievement is facilitated by the dual strengthening of the nano-multilayer structure and the in-situ generation of high-concentration, small-sized oxide nanoparticles at the contact interface. These findings provide invaluable insights into the design of irradiation-resistant and durable lubricating materials for space applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e22dd580e273472fa4c93202c76d2c44 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2662-4443 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Materials |
| spelling | doaj-art-e22dd580e273472fa4c93202c76d2c442025-08-20T03:42:56ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Materials2662-44432025-07-016111110.1038/s43246-025-00884-2Enhancing irradiation tolerance and inducing superlubricity in MoS2/W multilayer film exposed to atomic oxygenXin Fan0Wenhao He1Zhenao Zhang2Bo He3Yanwen Lin4Qinsheng He5Liang-Feng Huang6Siming Ren7Zhibin Lu8Jibin Pu9Qunji Xue10State Key Laboratory of Advanced Marine Materials, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Advanced Marine Materials, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesDepartment of Physics, Research Institute for Biomimetics and Soft Matter, Jiujiang Research Institute and Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Soft Functional Materials Research, Xiamen UniversityState Key Laboratory of Advanced Marine Materials, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Advanced Marine Materials, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Advanced Marine Materials, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Advanced Marine Materials, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Advanced Marine Materials, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of SciencesAbstract Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is a ubiquitous lubricant for use in outer space. Here, we present a MoS2/W nano-multilayer film engineered through precise structural optimization by fine-tuning sputtering parameters. This architecture, featuring alternating metallic W layers and highly oriented MoS2 layers, restricts oxidation depth to less than 25 nm (2.7×1021 atoms·cm−2)—just one-23rd of that observed in composite structure—outperforming previously reported space lubricants. Intriguingly, the metal oxide nanoparticles formed during atomic oxygen irradiation further reduce friction, enabling robust superlubricity with a friction coefficient of ~0.008. Our approach, bolstered by theoretical calculations and experiments, elucidates that this achievement is facilitated by the dual strengthening of the nano-multilayer structure and the in-situ generation of high-concentration, small-sized oxide nanoparticles at the contact interface. These findings provide invaluable insights into the design of irradiation-resistant and durable lubricating materials for space applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-025-00884-2 |
| spellingShingle | Xin Fan Wenhao He Zhenao Zhang Bo He Yanwen Lin Qinsheng He Liang-Feng Huang Siming Ren Zhibin Lu Jibin Pu Qunji Xue Enhancing irradiation tolerance and inducing superlubricity in MoS2/W multilayer film exposed to atomic oxygen Communications Materials |
| title | Enhancing irradiation tolerance and inducing superlubricity in MoS2/W multilayer film exposed to atomic oxygen |
| title_full | Enhancing irradiation tolerance and inducing superlubricity in MoS2/W multilayer film exposed to atomic oxygen |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing irradiation tolerance and inducing superlubricity in MoS2/W multilayer film exposed to atomic oxygen |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing irradiation tolerance and inducing superlubricity in MoS2/W multilayer film exposed to atomic oxygen |
| title_short | Enhancing irradiation tolerance and inducing superlubricity in MoS2/W multilayer film exposed to atomic oxygen |
| title_sort | enhancing irradiation tolerance and inducing superlubricity in mos2 w multilayer film exposed to atomic oxygen |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-025-00884-2 |
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