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Friction 2023, 11(3): 383-394 https://doi.org/10.1007/s40544-022-0603-z
Research Article | Open Access | Issue | Published: 03 June 2022

Magnetron sputtering NbSe2 film as lubricant for space current-carrying sliding contact

Show Author's Information Yang YANG1,2,  Lulu PEI1,  Hongzhang ZHANG3,  Kai FENG4,  Pengfei JU5,  Wenshan DUAN2,  Li JI1( ),  Hongxuan LI1,  Xiaohong LIU1,  Huidi ZHOU1,  Jianmin CHEN1
Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Wear and Protection of Materials, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
School of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Division of Energy Storage, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
College of Chemistry & Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
Shanghai Aerospace Equipment Manufacture, Shanghai 200245, China
Keywords:
vacuum, magnetron sputtering, NbSe2 films, current-carrying tribological properties
Cite this article:
YANG Y, PEI L, ZHANG H, et al. Magnetron sputtering NbSe2 film as lubricant for space current-carrying sliding contact. Friction, 2023, 11(3): 383-394. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40544-022-0603-z
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Abstract Full text Electronic supplementary material About this article

This study demonstrates that magnetron-sputtered NbSe2 film can be used as a lubricant for space current-carrying sliding contact, which accommodates both metal-like conductivity and MoS2-like lubricity. Deposition at low pressure and low energy is performed to avoid the generation of the interference phase of NbSe3. The composition, microstructure, and properties of the NbSe2 films are further tailored by controlling the sputtering current. At an appropriate current, the film changed from amorphous to crystalline, maintained a dense structure, and exhibited excellent comprehensive properties. Compared to the currently available electrical contact lubricating materials, the NbSe2 film exhibits a significant advantage under the combined vacuum and current-carrying conditions. The friction coefficient decreases from 0.25 to 0.02, the wear life increases more than seven times, and the electric noise reduces approximately 50%.


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Electronic supplementary material
About this article

Magnetron sputtering NbSe2 film as lubricant for space current-carrying sliding contact

Show Author's information Yang YANG1,2, Lulu PEI1, Hongzhang ZHANG3, Kai FENG4, Pengfei JU5, Wenshan DUAN2, Li JI1( ), Hongxuan LI1, Xiaohong LIU1, Huidi ZHOU1, Jianmin CHEN1
Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Wear and Protection of Materials, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
School of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Division of Energy Storage, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
College of Chemistry & Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
Shanghai Aerospace Equipment Manufacture, Shanghai 200245, China

Abstract

This study demonstrates that magnetron-sputtered NbSe2 film can be used as a lubricant for space current-carrying sliding contact, which accommodates both metal-like conductivity and MoS2-like lubricity. Deposition at low pressure and low energy is performed to avoid the generation of the interference phase of NbSe3. The composition, microstructure, and properties of the NbSe2 films are further tailored by controlling the sputtering current. At an appropriate current, the film changed from amorphous to crystalline, maintained a dense structure, and exhibited excellent comprehensive properties. Compared to the currently available electrical contact lubricating materials, the NbSe2 film exhibits a significant advantage under the combined vacuum and current-carrying conditions. The friction coefficient decreases from 0.25 to 0.02, the wear life increases more than seven times, and the electric noise reduces approximately 50%.

Keywords: vacuum, magnetron sputtering, NbSe2 films, current-carrying tribological properties

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Publication history

Received: 10 November 2021
Revised: 10 January 2021
Accepted: 29 January 2022
Published: 03 June 2022
Issue date: March 2023

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© The author(s) 2022.

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51775537) and Youth Innovation Promotion Association of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. Y202084) for financial support.

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