We just made a material so slippery it makes graphene look like sandpaper.
March 30, 2026
Original Paper
Compositional Complexity-Induced Ultralow Friction in Medium-Entropy MXenes
arXiv · 2603.25865
The Takeaway
Friction is the enemy of all moving parts, but this new class of 2D materials (MXenes) allows surfaces to slide past each other with almost zero resistance. By achieving a record-low friction level, this material could lead to nanomachines and industrial engines that essentially never wear out.
From the abstract
Two-dimensional MXenes are promising solid lubricants, but the roles of compositional complexity and surface chemistry in governing interfacial friction remain unclear. Here, we systematically investigate the adhesion and friction behaviors of medium-entropy (ME) MXenes, TiVNbMoC3 and TiVCrMoC3, and compare them with conventional titanium carbide MXenes, Ti2C and Ti3C2, using a SiO2 colloidal atomic force microscopy probe. Thermal annealing at 200 C converts OH surface terminations to O terminat