Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS2) as an Efficient Solid Lubricant

The unprecedented expansion in the automotive industries, aerospace, electronic components, and aircraft industries has led to more fuel consumption and energy wastage due to an increase in the issues related to wear, friction, and corrosion. Solid or liquid lubricants are used to encounter friction and wear that form a protective layer on the surface and avoid the direct interaction between the friction pairs. Usually, solid lubricants are used when liquid lubricants fail to fulfill the desired action. For instance, grease or oil suffers from various utilization issues related to weight, reaction conditions, sealing problems, etc. On the contrary, solid lubricants easily tackle such issues considering their reduced weight, simple lubrication method, and economical nature. Accredited to remarkable mechanical, tribological, thermal, and physical characteristics of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) like service temperatures, high strength, wear resistance, toughness, and high strength-to-weight ratio, etc., it has gained significant attention in the recent few decades as a solid lubricant. It is the most commonly employed solid lubricant, having an extensive range of application areas, including but not necessarily limited to the aerospace/space and automobile industries. Here, we are presenting an intensive chapter covering the solid lubrication characteristics of MoS2 with a significant focus on its structure, synthesis, properties, and coating methods. We have also presented the possible mechanisms that could lead to heat dissipation. Overall, the present chapter will help the readers enrich their knowledge about the solid lubrication properties of MoS2.