Construction of flower-like CuCo-MOF@1T-MoS2 nanocomposites as lubricant additives for enhanced tribological performance

Purpose This study aims to prepare a flower-like CuCo-MOF@1T-MoS2 nanocomposite and evaluate its tribological performance as a lubricant additive, with emphasis on elucidating the synergistic lubrication mechanism in different base oils. Design/methodology/approach A flower-like CuCo-MOF@1T-MoS2 nanocomposite was synthesized via a facile one-step hydrothermal method. The tribological performance of the nanocomposite as a lubricant additive was systematically evaluated in polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG200), liquid paraffin (LP) and silicone oil (SO) using a ball-on-disk tribometer under controlled load and speed. Findings The best performance was achieved at 0.2 Wt.% in PEG200, where the coefficient of friction and wear scar diameter decreased to 0.031 and 0.44 µm, respectively, corresponding to reductions of 69% and 56.5% compared with the base oil. This improvement is attributed to the synergistic interaction between 1T-MoS2 and CuCo-MOF, which facilitates the formation of a stable tribofilm and reduces direct asperity contact and wear. Originality/value The study introduces a novel CuCo-MOF@1T-MoS2 nanocomposite, revealing its unique synergistic lubrication mechanism and offering a new approach to designing high-performance nanolubricant additives.