EPSCoR Research Fellows: NSF: Mechanocatalysis with MXenes - Mechanically Driven Tribofilm Formation at Sliding Interfaces

This Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) EPSCoR Research Fellows project provides a fellowship to an Assistant Professor and training for a graduate student at Oklahoma State University (OSU). This work is conducted in collaboration with Prof. Babak Anasori at Purdue University. Through the fellowship, the principal investigator (PI) will investigate the formation of protective films at sliding interfaces via catalytic reactions on MXenes, a class of layered ceramics with excellent catalytic properties. These self-forming and self-healing films mitigate friction and wear, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This award supports fundamental research to address this gap and provide needed knowledge for designing more effective catalysts. These catalytic materials could find applications in anti-wear and anti-friction coatings for harsh environments in aerospace, automotive, and energy industries. The project will also support education and training of a graduate student in advanced synthesis, microscopy, and chemical characterization techniques. Mechanocatalysis leverages mechanical forces to drive catalytic reactions. This project will focus on the design, synthesis, and characterization of MXene nanocrystals tailored to catalyze the conversion of hydrocarbons to carbon-based tribofilms. This research will address two questions: (i) how do surface terminations on MXenes affect their mechanocatalytic activity; and (ii) what are the mechanisms by which stress drives catalytic reactions on MXenes. The project methodology combines top-down selective etching with high-speed atomic force microscopy and in-situ Raman spectroscopy techniques, enabling quantitative measurement of the nucleation and growth kinetics of tribofilms at single-asperity nanocontacts. The results will provide insights into mechanochemical reaction pathways activated by MXenes. The fellowship visits will enable the PI to acquire expertise in the synthetic chemistry of MXenes, gain access to unique instrumentation, and forge new collaborations. These outcomes will be sustained beyond the fellowship period by establishing the MXene synthesis capability at OSU, which will stimulate new research, education, and workforce development activities in Oklahoma. This project is supported by the EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: EPSCoR Research Fellows, which supports early- and mid-career investigators in eligible jurisdictions to develop collaborations at the nation’s private, government or academic research institutions. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. NSF Award ID: 2531814 | Program: 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT | Principal Investigator: Pranjal Nautiyal | Institution: Oklahoma State University, STILLWATER, OK | Award Amount: $294,412 View on NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=2531814 View on Research.gov: https://www.research.gov/awardapi-service/v1/awards/2531814.html