Research progress of preparation and tribological application of two-dimensional layered Ti₃C₂T_x

The two-dimensional layered material not only has a very high load bearing capacity, but also can easily enter the friction contact zone during the friction process by virtue of its ultra-thin thickness. Therefore, they have great research and application potential in reducing friction and wear. As a two-dimensional layered material similar to graphene, Mxenes has a unique structure and rich functional groups. Among them, Ti₃C₂T_x Mxenes is widely used as a lubricating additive because of its advantages such as shear resistance between low layers, high specific surface area and good dispersion. This paper mainly introduces the main preparation methods of two-dimensional layered Ti₃C₂T_x, including "top-down" and "bottom-up" preparation routes. The tribological applications and effects of 2D Ti₃C₂T_x as liquid lubricant additive, solid lubricant coating additive and composite reinforcement phase are reviewed, and the lubrication mechanism of Ti₃C₂T_x is discussed. Further, the development of 2D Ti₃C₂T_x preparation technology and its application as a new lubrication material are prospected.