The rapid evolution of micro- and nanoelectromechanical systems defines a new frontier of intelligent miniaturization, where interfacial friction and wear emerge as the fundamental bottlenecks limiting functional reliability and energy efficiency. Two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials with van der Waals layered structures have redefined the pursuit of superlubricity, where the interfacial potential corrugation is minimized by lattice incommensurability, and energy dissipation is further suppressed through phonon spectrum mismatch and charge-mediated coupling at the sliding interface. These atomistic principles manifest in two archetypes of superlubricity: structural superlubricity, governed by interfacial misalignment that suppresses atomic registry, and transformation superlubricity, arising from shear-induced interface reconstructions that dynamically smooth energy landscapes. Together they delineate a continuum from geometric misfit-driven to shear-adaptive energy dissipation modulation, yet translating these idealized states into device-scale systems remains formidable, as scaling, environmental perturbations, and integration losses readily destabilize ultralow-friction behavior. This review outlines how advances in van der Waals assembly, hybrid nanomembranes, and field-tunable heterostructures have established three classes of sliding-driven microsystems: mechanical energy transfer, mechano-electrical conversion, and smart interfacial control. Looking ahead, the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI)-guided design, standardized tribological metrics, and scalable integration is redefining superlubricity as a predictive framework for engineering 2D nanomaterials, nanoscale tribology, solid lubrication, superlubric interfaces, ultralow frictionreliable, energy-efficient microdevices.
Geng et al. (2026) studied this question.