Black phosphorus nanosheet dotted with Fe3O4-PDA nanoparticles: A novel lubricant additive for tribological applications

• Published in: Tribology international Vol. 207; p. 110607
• Main Authors: Xu, Xing, Su, Fenghua, Yu, Han, Liu, Ruizhe, Xu, Zhibiao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2025
• Subjects: Black phosphorus; Friction and wear; Lubrication; Nano-additives; Nano-additives; Lubrication; Friction and wear; Black phosphorus
• ISSN: 0301-679X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.triboint.2025.110607

The enhancement of black phosphorus applications and its lubricating properties as an additive are subjects of growing interest. Here, a novel BP/Fe3O4-PDA nanocomposite was synthesized by a facile approach. The results suggested that black phosphorus was successfully dotted with spherical Fe3O4 and PDA nanoparticles, which induced an amorphous alteration in black phosphorus. The obtained nanocomposites exhibited excellent dispersion stability in soybean oil compared to pure black phosphorus. The tribological performance of BP/Fe3O4-PDA nanocomposites in soybean oil and grease was evaluated by a ball-on-disc tribometer under high load. It was found that the use of BP/Fe3O4-PDA additives greatly reduced the friction coefficient (by 55.3 % in oil, 64.3 % in grease) and wear, proving to be more effective than BP additives. The findings revealed that the tribofilm comprising Fe3O4, PDA, and black phosphorus were generated at the friction interface, and their synergistic lubrication was deemed the primary factor enhancing the lubricating properties of oil and grease by BP/Fe3O4-PDA nano-additives. Additionally, the carbon film extracted from soybean oil was regarded as a contributing factor to the superior lubricating properties of BP/Fe3O4-PDA when used as additives in oil. This work paves the way for broadening the tribological applications of black phosphorus in lubricating oils and greases. •Novel BP/Fe3O4-PDA nanocomposite was synthesized by a facile approach.•The dotting of Fe3O4 and PDA particles induced amorphization transformation of black phosphorus.•The use of BP/Fe3O4-PDA additives greatly reduced the friction coefficient (by 55.3 % in oil, 64.3 % in grease) and wear.•Synergistic lubrication was achieved between Fe3O4, PDA and black phosphorus.