Tungsten disulfide nanomaterials as lubricant additives—An update

Tungsten disulfide (WS₂) nanomaterials have emerged as highly effective lubricant additives, leveraging their capacity to mitigate friction and wear, enhance operational performance, and prolong the durability of sliding components. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the preparation methods of WS₂ nanomaterials and their applications in tribology. It evaluates how preparation techniques, surface modifications, and composite architectures govern their friction-reducing properties, elucidating the mechanistic underpinnings of their superior tribological performance. WS₂ nanomaterials are reported to exhibit superior tribological properties, positioning them as a prominent research frontier in materials science and tribological engineering. Their industrial implementation holds substantial potential for generating both economic benefits and societal value through enhanced energy efficiency and extended component lifespan. Despite the promising potential of WS₂ nanomaterials in next-generation lubrication technologies, significant challenges hinder their widespread practical application. These include understanding how defect dynamics impact lubrication performance, addressing the inherent limitations of non-polar oil matrices, the lack of comprehensive knowledge regarding real-time service behavior under operational conditions, and their restricted applicability in extreme environments. Overcoming these critical barriers is crucial to fully realize the sustainable potential of WS₂ nanomaterials in advanced lubrication solutions.