Synthesis of nanoSiO₂/graphene oxide nanocomposite as a novel engine oil additive for reducing friction and wear

The limited dispersion stability of graphene in lubricating oils and the high cost of chemical deposition method to prepare SiO2/GO composite materials. The samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscope. The test results demonstrate the ideal anchoring of SiO2 materials on GO surfaces. The tribological properties of SiO2/GO nanomaterials as the base oil additive were investigated using a four-ball tribometer. The addition of SiO2/GO nanocomposites to the lubricating oil enhances its lubrication performance, resulting in a significant reduction of 38.6% and 29.7% in friction coefficient and wear scar diameter compared to the base oil. The prominent lubrication properties of SiO2/GO nanocomposites are attributed to their excellent dispersion and ultra-thin shape, which enable them to enter contact surfaces and act as protective films that prevent direct contact with each other. Compared with the previous research, the rheology was innovatively introduced, the rheological test of the lubricating oil was conducted, and its results were correlated with the friction data. The rheological data were fitted to analyze and understand the lubrication mechanism, providing a novel perspective for studying lubricating oils. SiO2/GO composites exhibited excellent performance due to their low cost and lubrication, which is the future direction of commercial lubricant development. It can be extensively utilized in the domains of automotive engines and heavy machinery, which exhibits promising potential applications.