Nano-Architectural Evolution and Hybridization Dynamics in Carbon Nanocoatings Under Electro-Mechanical Coupling

Current-carrying tribological interfaces suffer from severe electrical corrosion because coupled electrical, mechanical, and tribochemical interactions continuously drive interfacial degradation. Although carbon-based films exhibit excellent tribological and electrical properties, the relationship between their structural evolution and electrical corrosion remains poorly understood. Herein, a carbon-based film/ionic-liquid triboelectrochemical interface was constructed to elucidate the coupling between carbon structural reconstruction, tribochemical evolution, and electrical corrosion. The results reveal that current-carrying sliding continuously reconstructs the carbon network, promoting graphitic nanostructure formation and interfacial tribochemical reactions that jointly regulate friction and electrical transport. Meanwhile, ionic liquids stabilize the evolving interface through conductive adsorption layers, effectively suppressing localized electrical corrosion. Combined experimental characterization and molecular dynamics simulations establish the intrinsic relationship between interfacial structural evolution and tribological performance. This work provides mechanistic insights into triboelectrochemical interfacial evolution and offers a theoretical basis for designing electrically reliable carbon-based lubricating materials.