Covalently bonded Ti3C2Tx/attapulgite sheet-rod heterostructure enabling synergistic lubrication

To overcome the poor dispersion and limited load-bearing capacity of two-dimensional lubricant additives in oils, we designed and synthesized a novel Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene/Attapulgite (ATP) sheet-rod heterostructure as a high-performance lubricant additive. The heterostructure was constructed through 1,12-diaminododecane (DAD)-mediated interfacial assembly, enabling strong integration between the sheet-like and rod-like components. The long alkyl chain of DAD improves the dispersion stability of Ti 3 C 2 T x /ATP in ester oil, while the sheet-rod architecture promotes the formation of a robust synergistic interface. Tribological evaluations show that adding 0.20 wt% Ti 3 C 2 T x /ATP reduces the friction coefficient and wear volume by 37% and 74%, respectively, compared with the base oil. Mechanistic analysis indicates that the superior performance arises from a synergistic lubrication mechanism, in which sheet-like Ti 3 C 2 T x provides low-shear interfacial sliding, whereas rod-like ATP acts as a structural spacer and local load-supporting component. The DAD-mediated sheet-rod architecture facilitates the formation of a stable composite tribofilm on the contact surface, integrating low-shear lubrication, structural support, and wear protection. This work establishes a design strategy for developing high-performance composite lubricant additives based on interfacially integrated two-dimensional/one-dimensional heterostructures.