SnS 2 nanosheets as an excellent lubricant additive in polyalphaolefin oil

This paper is devoted to investigate the friction‐reducing and wear protection of SnS 2 nanosheets as lubricant additive in poly‐α‐olefin oil (PAO). SnS 2 nanosheets, synthesised by a hydrothermal process, were characterised by Raman and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). A ball‐on‐disk tribometer was used to compare the friction coefficient and wear when lubricated by PAO oil in absence and presence of SnS 2 nanosheets. The worn surfaces were observed by SEM. The chemical compositions of tribofilm are analysed by XPS. The experiments showed that addition of SnS 2 nanosheets are effective in reducing both friction and wear when lubricated by using base oil. XPS results shows that the enhanced tribological performance is due to a SnS 2 ‐rich boundary film which is formed by deposit of SnS 2 nanosheets on the contact area during the sliding process.