Super-slippery 2D material could be ideal lubricant for planetary rovers

Titanium carbide MXene exhibits superlubricant properties on the macroscale in oxygen- and humidity-free environments, US researchers have found. The finding, the team said, means the material could be a new solid lubricant to reduce wear and tear on future Mars rovers.

First described in 2011, MXenes – pronounced ‘maxines’ – are a class of two-dimensional, layered metal carbide materials which have attracted attention for their conductive properties – and have been proposed for applications in the realms of energy storage and harvesting, sensor design and optoelectronics. Recent studies, however, have found that MXenes also have potential for use as solid lubricants – however, until now, none had demonstrated superlubricity on the macroscale.