This study introduces a breakthrough in self-lubricating WS₂–nitrogen (WSN) coatings engineered for demanding applications across industries requiring adaptive durability and high performance. Deposited via nonequilibrium reactive magnetron sputtering in N₂-containing atmospheres, the WSN coatings demonstrate exceptional tribological behavior across a range of extreme conditions, including constantly discrete high temperatures, ramping temperatures either during heating or cooling and wide temperature cycling from room temperature to 400 °C. The WSN coatings exhibit an extremely low coefficient of friction (CoF = 0.02) up to 400 °C, with high thermal stability and superior triboperformance. Moreover, the coatings possess favorable tribo-reversibility under 400 °C ↔ room temperature cycles. Transmission electron microscopy analysis verified the self-lubricating, tribologically reversible, and ultralow lubrication mechanisms of the WSN coatings. However, under high-temperature tribosliding, the WS₂ layer still dynamically forms a self-organized, layered interface structure that continuously adapts to sliding conditions, ultimately enabling sustained superlubricity and tribological reversibility. Oxidation during high-temperature tribosliding actually has only a minor degrading effect on friction provided that the coatings retain sufficient sulfur to predominantly form WS₂ lubricant agents. This study provides novel insights into the development of advanced tribocatings exhibiting adaptive ultralubrication under various temperature conditions.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) films, as representative piezoelectric semiconductors, have garnered considerable interest in ultrasonic testing. Current research challenges include maintaining the consistency of continuous c-axis orientation and determining the fundamental link between the electrical structure and piezoelectric response. Accordingly, we have proposed ZnO films incorporated with an orientation-inducing layer (OIL), utilizing orientation induction and rapid deposition technology to regulate the growth structure of the ZnO films. Furthermore, the influence of the competitive mechanism between the film growth and lateral diffusion on the film’s growth structure has been investigated. Piezoelectric force microscopy (PFM) analysis demonstrated the regulation and enhancement of ZnO piezoelectric polarization by the OIL. The enhancement mechanism of OIL on film performance was revealed via experimental examination of the film structure, morphology, crystallization orientation, oxygen vacancies, carrier concentration, band structure, and density of states based on density functional theory (DFT). Benefiting from the superior electromechanical response of the ZnO OIL sensor, characterized by fast response recovery times of 2.4 ms/7.7 ms and a sensitivity of 1.09 V/N, the device has successfully demonstrated practical applications in both motion pressure detection and bolt axial force measurement. These findings provide new insights into the ultrasonic detection for aerospace applications of ZnO OIL piezoelectric devices and demonstrate significant potential for health monitoring in connection systems.