Supramolecular Repair of Hydration Lubrication Surfaces

Wang, Y.; Sun, Y.; Avestro, A.-J.; McGonigal, P.R.; Zhang, H.

Abstract

Although advances in coating technologies have allowed us to match—or even exceed—the lubricity of Nature’s low-friction surfaces, the performance of synthetic materials inevitably diminish over time as the surfaces are worn and damaged by irreversible breakage of covalent bonds. Synthetic systems lack the bespoke repair mechanisms that replenish hydration lubrication surfaces in Nature. Here, we demonstrate dynamic repair of low-friction surfaces prepared through a surface-selective self-assembly strategy. Monolayers of lubricating polymers associate with functionalized surfaces through strong and specific host–guest interactions, leading to hydration lubrication surfaces with low coefficients of friction (0.024–0.028). Following friction-induced dissociation of the polymers, the polymer-to-surface interaction is restored by the reformation of host–guest complexes, thus repairing the monolayer, renewing the surface lubricity, and reducing the effects of wear. Such dynamically restored low-friction materials will be an essential tool in decreasing global energy use – a fifth of which is expended overcoming friction.

Citation

Wang, Y., Sun, Y., Avestro, A., McGonigal, P., & Zhang, H. (2022). Supramolecular Repair of Hydration Lubrication Surfaces. Chem, 8(2), 480-493. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chempr.2021.11.001

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 1, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Nov 24, 2021
• Publication Date: Feb 10, 2022
• Deposit Date: Oct 15, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 24, 2022
• Journal: Chem
• Print ISSN: 2451-9308
• Publisher: Cell Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 480-493
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chempr.2021.11.001