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Surface Modification of Materials and Their Applications

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 304

Special Issue Editor

School of Energy Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
Interests: structure and design of lithium ion/sodium ion/zinc ion battery; chemical synthesis and structural regulation of polymer materials; new-type nanocomposite-scale preparation and application
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Surface modification involves altering the chemical composition, physical structure, or other properties of a material through physical, chemical, or biological means without affecting its bulk characteristics. This method aims to improve the material’s performance in specific environments. Its core lies in endowing the surface with special functions such as wear resistance, corrosion resistance, biocompatibility, catalysis, hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity, and conductivity. Surface modification has become a key engineering technology for improving the properties of materials and expanding its scope of applications. Existing surface modification methods mainly include laser surface treatment (cladding, alloying, texturing), ion implantation, physical vapor deposition (PVD), chemical functionalization, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), plasma surface modification, chemical plating, and anodic oxidation, among others. This Special Issue focuses on developing more efficient, environmentally friendly, and controllable surface modification technologies, gaining a deeper understanding of the formation mechanism, structure, and performance relationship of modified layers, and exploring their innovative applications in cutting-edge fields such as advanced manufacturing, new energy, environmental protection, and biotechnology.

Dr. Yi Zhang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • chemical functionalization
  • surface modification
  • catalysis
  • biotechnology
  • advanced manufacturing
  • environment

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

11 pages, 2562 KB  
Article
A MXene-Based Solvent-Free Nanofluid Lubricant for Friction and Wear Reduction
by Wenfeng Zhu, Xuwu Luo, Junfeng Xie, Yaoming Zhang, Mifeng Zhao, Junhui Wei, Lei Li, Houbu Li and Peipei Li
Molecules 2026, 31(1), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31010051 - 23 Dec 2025
Viewed by 161
Abstract
With the rapid advancements in industrial technology, the demand for high-performance lubrication has surpassed the capabilities of traditional solid or liquid lubricants. In this study, a novel MXene-based solvent-free lubricating nanofluid was developed through the surface functionalization of Ti3C2T [...] Read more.
With the rapid advancements in industrial technology, the demand for high-performance lubrication has surpassed the capabilities of traditional solid or liquid lubricants. In this study, a novel MXene-based solvent-free lubricating nanofluid was developed through the surface functionalization of Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets. This innovative material combines the superior mechanical properties of solid Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets with the stable flow and rapid self-repairing capabilities of liquid lubricants. The successful synthesis of the MXene-based solvent-free nanofluid lubricant was confirmed through a series of characterization techniques, and it was demonstrated that this nanofluid maintained excellent flowability at room temperature. Subsequent tribological tests revealed that the friction coefficient and the wear performance of the MXene-based solvent-free nanofluid lubricant improved with increasing mass concentrations of Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets under consistently applied loads. These results indicate that the MXene-based solvent-free nanofluid lubricant significantly reduces friction and wear, showcasing its potential as a high-performance lubricant for industrial applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Modification of Materials and Their Applications)
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