Abstract

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films are essential candidates for advanced tribological systems due to their excellent self-lubrication, inherent wear resistance, and compatibility with diverse substrates. However, their practical application under extreme service conditions is heavily constrained by the friction-induced structural deterioration, premature failure of transfer films, and insufficient lubrication longevity. To overcome these drawbacks, we propose a dual-scale modification strategy that integrates surface texture with MoS2 nanosheets, markedly enhancing the tribological performances of HDLC films. HDLC film was deposited on textured steel substrates, followed by filling MoS2 nanosheets into micro-dimples via a wipe-coating method. The composite film with a texture density of 14% achieved an ultra-low and long-term stable friction coefficient of approximately 0.03, accompanied by an 89% reduction in wear rate relative to the untextured HDLC film. The micro-dimples served as "lubricant reservoirs" for sustained MoS2 replenishment, "debris traps" to alleviate abrasive wear, and "interface regulators" for stabilizing sliding contact. A robust low-shear composite transfer film, composed of MoS2 and graphitized carbon, was formed on the Si3N4 counterpart, which enabled the composite film to maintain sustained ultra-low friction. This work not only reveals the remarkable tribological synergy among HDLC film, surface texture, and nano-MoS2 lubricant, but also offers a universal and scalable design paradigm for developing next-generation low-friction and wear-resistant carbon-based coatings.

Keywords Plus: SUPERLOW FRICTION，PERFORMANCE，BEHAVIOR

Published in CARBON，Volume255；10.1016/j.carbon.2026.121552，MAY 5 2026