Gallium-based liquid metal hybridizing MoS2 nanosheets with reversible rheological characteristics and enhanced lubrication properties

Abstract

Gallium-based liquid metal (GLM) is a promising lubricant candidate due to its high load capacity and high thermal stability. However, the lubrication performance of GLM is restricted by its metallic characteristics. Herein, this work proposes a facile method to obtain a GLM@MoS₂ composite by integrating GLM with MoS₂ nanosheets. The incorporation of MoS₂ imparts GLM with different rheological properties. Since GLM is able to be separated from the GLM@MoS₂ composite and agglomerates into bulk liquid metal again in alkaline solution, the bonding between GLM and MoS₂ nanosheets is reversible. Moreover, our frictional tests demonstrate that the GLM@MoS₂ composite exhibits enhanced tribological performance including reduction of friction coefficient and wear rate by 46% and 89%, respectively, in contrast to the pure GLM.