@article{Zeng2025, 
author = {Kai Zeng and Liang Cheng and Hanglin Li and Xuechao Song and Rong Qu and Ting Li and Lin Da and Hengrui Du and Hengyi Lu and Wenjing Hu and Jiusheng Li},
title = {Morphology-engineered TiO2 nanocrystals via solvothermal synthesis for enhanced colloidal stability and lubrication performance},
year = {2025},
journal = {Nano Research},
volume = {18},
number = {12},
pages = {94908124},
keywords = {morphology control, synergistic lubrication, dispersion stability, TiO2 nanocrystals},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/NR.2025.94908124},
doi = {10.26599/NR.2025.94908124},
abstract = {Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanocrystals have garnered significant interest in nanofluid research field due to their controllable morphology, eco-friendly nature, and superior lubrication properties. However, the long-term dispersion stability of TiO2 nanocrystals remains a significant challenge. This study demonstrates that the morphology, {001} facet exposure, and consequent surface modifier adsorption density of TiO2 nanocrystals are synergistically controlled by modulating the facet-specific adsorption of oleic acid (OA), oleylamine (OM), and dioleamide during solvothermal synthesis. This control mechanism directly governs both dispersion stability and interfacial lubrication behavior. Crucially, the high-density modifier layer establishes a steric stabilization barrier, which ensures colloidal stability. The optimized TiO2 nanocrystals (TiO2-OAOM) exhibit colloidal stability for over 5 months and enhance the anti-wear properties of the base oil by 10-fold. Furthermore, synergistic interactions between TiO2-OAOM and zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate (ZDDP) are confirmed in multiple friction pairs. These interactions promote the hardness and wear resistance of the tribo-film, thereby improving lubrication performance and suppressing metal transfer. This study provides a novel strategy for the co-optimization of dispersion stability and tribological properties of nanocrystals through surface engineering, offering novel insights into the design of nanofluids and a potent solution for lubrication challenges on low-hardness metals.}
}