Review of Recent Advances in Porous Organic Frameworks as Additives for Lubrication

Friction and wear control are critical challenges for the efficient operation and sustainable development of modern industries. The performance limitations of conventional lubricants under extreme conditions, coupled with their environmental impacts, necessitate innovative solutions. Recently, covalent and metal porous organic frameworks (POFs), including covalent organic frameworks (COFs) and metal organic frameworks (MOFs), have emerged as promising candidates for tribological applications, attributed to their designable nanoporous architectures, ultrahigh specific surface areas, and abundant functional active sites. This review systematically examines the design strategies, performance optimization mechanisms, and advancements in the application of organic framework materials as lubrication additives. Through approaches such as surface functionalization, polymer grafting, hybrid composite engineering, and defect modulation, significant improvements have been achieved in material dispersibility, interfacial compatibility, and tribochemical activity, resulting in substantial reductions in friction coefficients and wear rates. The unique interlayer sliding properties, dynamic responsiveness, and multifunctional capabilities of COFs/MOFs provide a solid foundation for their use in self-lubricating systems, smart electrically controlled friction interfaces, and biomedical lubrication. Finally, the current challenges and a brief outlook on the future development of porous organic frameworks as additives for lubrication are also presented.