Reinforcement of nanoporous lanthanum-doped zinc borate by vanadium selenide nanosheets for improved tribological activity.

Nanoporous zinc borate (ZB) and 10% lanthanum-doped porous zinc borate (LZB) were synthesized to explore the role of porosity and doping in zinc borate during lubrication. HR-SEM, TEM, and HR-TEM authenticated nanoporous structures. The tribological properties of their blends with paraffin oil (PO) were compared by employing ASTM D4172 and ASTM D5183 norms on a four-ball tester. Vanadium selenide nanosheets (VSe) were used to reinforce the structure of LZB for further advancement of the tribological properties. The superiority of the LZB/VSe over LZB and VSe nanosheets could be adjudged by tribological data. The porosity and lanthanum doping have yielded commendable tribological activity. The VSe nanosheets have strengthened the LZB matrix. The other constituent oxides of tribofilm from the LZB matrix, based on EDX analysis and XPS studies of the worn surface, ZnO, BO, LaO, and VO, have abetted lubrication. The AFM and SEM investigations of wear track corroborated the tribological results.