Biomimicking synovial joints trans-scale structured AgQDs/MXene/SiOC achieving macroscale high lubrication and superior wear resistance

Naturally optimized successful synovial joints with lightweight,high load-carrying,ultra-low friction and wear have attracted tribological communities to constantly imitate and replicate.Despite impressive advances in cartilage lubrication,extending such extraordinary performance advantages to macroscale solid lubrication remains a challenge.Herein,inspired by the fascinating interplay of synovial joints,a novel kind of trans-scale hierarchical structured ceramic-based composite was developed.Intro-ducing microscale Ag microspheres(AgMs)“cartilage”layer and nanoscale Ag quantum dots/MXene(AgQDs/MXene)“synovial fluid”into the interior and exterior of printed macroscale SiOC“hard bone”realistically restores the gradient structure of synovial joint prototype.The resulted composite with ideal compressive strength(70.44 MPa)can achieve a 60.53%friction reduction and a low wear rate(2.05×10^(−6)mm 3 N^(−1)m^(−1))in dry tribo-contact for 3600 sliding cycles,while also maintaining considerable low friction(∼0.11)over 10,000 sliding cycles and long-term stable lubrication(∼0.13)for up to 50,000 re-ciprocating cycles.Such extraordinary performance can be explained by the division of macro contacts,full loading of AgMs and AgQDs/MXene,abrasive debris capture and removal,as well as the shear rolling effect induced by friction process.This work opens a new avenue to develop structural lubricating mate-rials for complex engineering applications.