Influence of Environmental Humidity on the Wear and Friction of a Silica/Silicon Tribopair Lubricated with a Hydrophilic Ionic Liquid

Molecular Interactions between Ionic Liquid Lubricants and Silica Surfaces: An MD Simulation Study

The unique physicochemical properties of ionic liquids (ILs) attracted interest in their application as lubricants of micro/nano-electromechanical systems. This work evaluates the feasibility of using the protic ionic liquids [4-picH][HSO4], [4-picH][CH3SO3], [MIMH][HSO4], and [MIMH][CH3SO3] and the aprotic ILs [C6mim][HSO4] and [C6mim][CH3SO3] as additives to model lubricant poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG200) to lubricate silicon surfaces. Additives based on the cation [4-picH]+ exhibited the best tribological performance, with the optimal value for 2% [4-picH][HSO4] in PEG200 (w/w). Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the first stages of adsorption of the ILs at the glass surface were performed to portray the molecular behavior of the ILs added to PEG200 and their interaction with the silica substrate. For the pure ILs at the solid substrates, the MD results indicated that weak specific interactions of the cation with the glass interface are lost to accommodate the larger anion in the first contact layer. For the PEG200 + 2% [4-picH][HSO4] system, the formation of a more compact protective film adsorbed at the glass surface is revealed by a larger trans population of the dihedral angle -O(R)-C-C-O(R)- in PEG200, in comparison to the same distribution for the pure model lubricant. Our findings suggest that the enhanced lubrication performance of PEG200 with [4-picH][HSO4] arises from synergistic interactions between the protic IL and PEG200 at the adsorbed layer.

New Protic Ionic Liquids as Potential Additives to Lubricate Si-Based MEMS/NEMS

The motivation for this work was to develop new protic ionic liquids (PILs) as additives for the lubrication of micro and nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS and NEMS). Ten PILs based on the combination of methylimidazolium ([MIMH]), 4-picolinium ([4-picH]), pyridinium ([PyrH]), 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]-undec-7-ene-8-ium ([DBUH]) and tetramethylguanidinium ([TMGH]) cations with hydrogen sulfate([HSO4]) and mesylate ([MeSO3]) anions were tested as additives in polyethylene glycol (PEG200) to lubricate steel/silicon and silicon/silicon contacts. The best additive was [4-picH][HSO4], which adsorbed strongly on the Si surface, leading to a protective film that reduced wear by up to 15 times compared to PEG200.

Impact of water on the lubricating properties of hexadecane at the nanoscale

Fluid lubricants are routinely used to reduce friction in a wide range of applications, from car engines to machinery and hard-disk drives. However, their efficiency can be significantly influenced by the ambient conditions they are exposed to, in particular humidity. Our understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for the well-documented impact of water on lubrication remains limited, hindering the improvement of tribological formulations. Here, we use Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and shear force spectroscopy to investigate the structural and dynamical behaviour of a model lubricant, hexadecane, confined between an AFM probe and a hydrophilic mica surface at different temperatures and humidities. We show that both the nanoscale structure and the tribological behaviour of the system are dominated by the nucleation of water nanodroplets at the interface. The process is favoured at higher temperature and can be explained with classical nucleation theory whereby the droplets become stable when larger than 20 nm to 50 nm size, depending on the ambient conditions. Below this threshold, a molecularly thin film of water molecules coats the surface uniformly. Highly localised shear measurements demonstrate a detrimental impact of the nanodroplets on shear with a twofold increase in the lubricated friction force. However, this can be mitigated by the adjunction of an amphiphilic additive, here oleic acid.

Microstructural and Dynamical Heterogeneities in Ionic Liquids

Ionic liquids (ILs) are a special category of molten salts solely composed of ions with varied molecular symmetry and charge delocalization. The versatility in combining varied cation-anion moieties and in functionalizing ions with different atoms and molecular groups contributes to their peculiar interactions ranging from weak isotropic associations to strong, specific, and anisotropic forces. A delicate interplay among intra- and intermolecular interactions facilitates the formation of heterogeneous microstructures and liquid morphologies, which further contributes to their striking dynamical properties. Microstructural and dynamical heterogeneities of ILs lead to their multifaceted properties described by an inherent designer feature, which makes ILs important candidates for novel solvents, electrolytes, and functional materials in academia and industrial applications. Due to a massive number of combinations of ion pairs with ion species having distinct molecular structures and IL mixtures containing varied molecular solvents, a comprehensive understanding of their hierarchical structural and dynamical quantities is of great significance for a rational selection of ILs with appropriate properties and thereafter advancing their macroscopic functionalities in applications. In this review, we comprehensively trace recent advances in understanding delicate interplay of strong and weak interactions that underpin their complex phase behaviors with a particular emphasis on understanding heterogeneous microstructures and dynamics of ILs in bulk liquids, in mixtures with cosolvents, and in interfacial regions.

Ionic liquid lubricants: when chemistry meets tribology

Ionic liquids (ILs) have emerged as potential lubricants in 2001. Subsequently, there has been tremendous research interest in ILs from the tribology society since their discovery as novel synthetic lubricating materials. This also expands the research area of ILs. Consistent with the requirement of searching for alternative and eco-friendly lubricants, IL lubrication will experience further development in the coming years. Herein, we review the research progress of IL lubricants. Generally, the tribological properties of IL lubricants as lubricating oils, additives and thin films are reviewed in detail and their lubrication mechanisms discussed. Considering their actual applications, the flexible design of ILs allows the synthesis of task-specific and tribologically interesting ILs to overcome the drawbacks of the application of ILs, such as high cost, poor compatibility with traditional oils, thermal oxidization and corrosion. Nowadays, increasing research is focused on halogen-free ILs, green ILs, synthesis-free ILs and functional ILs. In addition to their macroscopic properties, the nanoscopic performance of ILs on a small scale and in small gaps is also important in revealing their tribological mechanisms. It has been shown that when sliding surfaces are compressed, in comparison with a less polar molecular lubricant, ion pairs resist "squeeze out" due to the strong interaction between the ions of ILs and oppositely charged surfaces, resulting in a film that remains in place at higher shear forces. Thus, the lubricity of ILs can be externally controlled in situ by applying electric potentials. In summary, ILs demonstrate sufficient design versatility as a type of model lubricant for meeting the requirements of mechanical engineering. Accordingly, their perspectives and future development are discussed in this review.

Effect of Ionicity of Three Protic Ionic Liquids as Neat Lubricants and Lubricant Additives to a Biolubricant

Friction and wear of sliding surfaces are responsible for important energy losses and negative environmental effects. The use of environmentally friendly and cost-effective protic ionic liquids as neat lubricants and lubricant additives has the potential to increase the efficiency and durability of mechanical components without increasing the environmental damage. In this work, three halogen-free protic ionic liquids with increasing extent of ionicity, 2-hydroxyethylammonium 2-ethylhexanoate, 2-hydroxymethylammonium 2-ethylhexancate, and 2-hydroxydimethylammonium 2-ethylhexanoate, were synthesized and studied as neat lubricants and additives to a biodegradable oil in a steel–steel contact. The results show that the use of any protic ionic liquid as a neat lubricant or lubricant additive reduced friction and wear with respect to the biodegradable oil. The ionic liquid with the lowest ionicity reached the highest wear reduction. The one possessing the highest ionicity presented the poorest friction and wear behaviors as a neat lubricant, probably due to the more ionic nature of this liquid, which promoted tribocorrosion reactions on the steel surface. This ionic liquid performed better as an additive, showing that a small addition of this liquid in a biodegradable oil is enough to form protective layers on steel surfaces. However, it is not enough to accelerate the wear process with detrimental tribocorrosion reactions.

Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Lubrication by Ionic Liquids: Activated Slip and Flow

The present study provides molecular insight into the mechanisms underlying energy dissipation and lubrication of a smooth contact lubricated by an ionic liquid. We have performed normal and lateral force measurements with a surface forces apparatus and by colloidal probe atomic force microscopy on the following model systems: 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium bis-(trifluoro-methylsulfonyl) imide, in dry state and in equilibrium with ambient (humid) air; the surface was either bare mica or functionalized with a polymer brush. The velocity-dependence of the friction force reveals two different regimes of lubrication, boundary-film lubrication, with distinct characteristics for each model system, and fluid-film lubrication above a transition velocity V∗. The underlying mechanisms of energy dissipation are evaluated with molecular models for stress-activated slip and flow, respectively. The stress-activated slip assumes that two boundary layers (composed of ions/water strongly adsorbed to the surface) slide past each other; the dynamics of interionic interactions at the slip plane and the strength of the interaction dictate the change in friction -decreasing, increasing or remaining constant- with velocity in the boundary-film lubrication regime. Above a transition velocity V∗, friction monotonically increases with velocity in the three model systems. Here, multiple layers of ions slide past each other (“flow”) under a shear stress and friction depends on a shear-activation volume that is significantly affected by confinement. The proposed friction model provides a molecular perspective of the lubrication of smooth contacts by ionic liquids and allows identifying the physical parameters that control friction.

Imidazolium-based ionic liquids used as additives in the nanolubrication of silicon surfaces

In recent years, with the development of micro/nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS), the demand for efficient lubricants of silicon surfaces intensified. Although the use of ionic liquids (ILs) as additives to base oils in the lubrication of steel/steel or other types of metal/ metal tribological pairs has been investigated, the number of studies involving Si is very low. In this work, we tested imidazolium-based ILs as additives to the base oil polyethylene glycol (PEG) to lubricate Si surfaces. The friction coefficients were measured in a nanotribometer. The viscosity of the PEG + IL mixtures as well as their contact angles on the Si surface were measured. The topography and chemical composition of the substrates surfaces were determined with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. Due to the hygroscopic properties of PEG, the first step was to assess the effect of the presence of water. Then, a series of ILs based on the cations 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium [EMIM], 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium [BMIM], 1-ethyl-3-vinylimidazolium [EVIM], 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-methylimidazolium [C₂OHMIM] and 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium [AMIM] combined with the anions dicyanamide [DCA], trifluoromethanesulfonate [TfO], and ethylsulfate [EtSO₄] were added to dry PEG. All additives (2 wt %) led to a decrease in friction coefficient as well as an increase in viscosity (with the exception of [AMIM][TfO]) and improved the Si wettability. The additives based on the anion [EtSO₄] exhibited the most promising tribological behavior, which was attributed to the strong interaction with the Si surface ensuring the formation of a stable surface layer, which hinders the contact between the sliding surfaces.

Humidity-accelerated spreading of ionic liquids on a mica surface

The role of relative humidity (RH) on the wetting behavior of droplets of two [Rmim][NTf₂] ionic liquids (ILs) on a mica surface was investigated and water vapor adsorption was found to enhance the ILs precursor film formation and droplet spreading.