Intelligent Near-Infrared-Responsive MXene-Derived Hierarchical Heterostructures for On-Demand Friction Modulation and Sustainable Robust Anticorrosion

Abstract Current research predominantly focuses on the synthesis of novel lubricants for friction reduction, with limited attention given to intelligently responsive lubricating materials adapted for complex environments. This study proposes a near-infrared responsive intelligent lubrication system based on heterostructure assembled from fluorinated graphene and MXene. A zero-dimensional and two-dimensional hierarchical system is constructed to enhance the binding between the epoxy resin and the organic framework. This system demonstrates outstanding photothermal responsiveness and self-healing properties, enabling dynamic regulation of lubrication behaviors via near-infrared irradiation. After 21 days of immersion treatment, its impedance still maintains a high level of 2.76 × 108 Ω·cm2, while the friction coefficient is reduced from 0.13 to 0.03. Notably, the system retains good stability even after undergoing 14,400 reciprocating friction cycles. When subjected to 168 h of ultraviolet irradiation, the friction coefficient only rises slightly to 0.04, which indicates better anti-UV aging performance in comparison with pure epoxy resin. This study offers a novel design approach for the development of intelligent protective materials that integrate environmental responsiveness, long-term corrosion resistance, UV resistance, and high-efficiency lubrication.