Tribochemistry of superlubricating amorphous carbon films

Tribochemistry refers to a series of physical and chemical reactions that occur at a sliding interface under friction action, and the tribological properties of materials also change significantly. Understanding the effect of tribochemical reactions on the tribological properties of materials is important for controlling the structure and composition of materials by chemical means and promoting the engineering application of materials. This study primarily introduces the tribochemical reactions of diamond-like carbon (DLC) films during the friction process in different environments and the relationship between tribochemistry and the tribological properties of DLC films. From this, the study proposes strategies to achieve the superlubricity of DLC films through tribochemistry. Finally, challenges and countermeasures in the engineering application of DLC films are discussed.