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Review
. 2025 Jul 30;18(15):3587.
doi: 10.3390/ma18153587.

Advances in the Tribological Performance of Graphene Oxide and Its Composites

Mayur B Wakchaure  1 , Pradeep L Menezes  1
Affiliations
Review

Advances in the Tribological Performance of Graphene Oxide and Its Composites

Mayur B Wakchaure et al. Materials (Basel). .

Abstract

Graphene oxide (GO), a derivative of graphene, has attracted significant attention in tribological applications due to its unique structural, mechanical, and chemical properties. This review highlights the influence of GO and its composites on friction and wear performance across various engineering systems. The paper explores GO's key properties, such as its high surface area, layered morphology, and abundant functional groups. These features contribute to reduced shear resistance, tribofilm formation, and improved load-bearing capacity. A detailed analysis of GO-based composites, including polymer, metal, and ceramic matrices, reveals those small additions of GO (typically 0.1-2 wt%) result in substantial reductions in coefficient of friction and wear rate, with improvements ranging between 30-70%, depending on the application. The tribological mechanisms, including self-lubrication, dispersion, thermal stability, and interface interactions, are discussed to provide insights into performance enhancement. Furthermore, the effects of electrochemical environment, functional group modifications, and external loading conditions on GO's tribological behavior are examined. Despite these advantages, challenges such as scalability, agglomeration, and material compatibility persist. Overall, the paper demonstrates that GO is a promising additive for advanced tribological systems, while also identifying key limitations and future research directions.

Keywords: GO-based composites; functionalized graphene oxide; graphene oxide (GO); self-lubricating materials.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Chemical structure of graphene, graphene oxide (GO), and reduced graphene oxide (rGO). Reproduced from [30] under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Overview of important properties of graphene oxide.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Optical micrographs and 3D surface reconstructions showing how composition affects wear scars on stationary specimens. (a,e) Unlubricated sliding results in a deep, rough scar. (b,f) Graphene lubrication reduces scar size and smooths the surface. (c,g) Adding PVDF further minimizes the scar. (d,h) The composite coating nearly eliminates visible wear, preserving the surface integrity. Reproduced from [77] with permission from Elsevier, © 2017. All rights reserved.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Optical microscopy images of the worn tracks after tribo-corrosion tests in CoCr (a), CoCrErGO (b), and CoCrErGOHA (c) after 30,000 m of sliding distance. Scanning electron microscopy image of the worn track after tribo-corrosion testing in CoCrErGO (d) after 30,000 m of sliding distance [126].
Figure 5
Figure 5
(a) Current and COF changes in the composite solutions under −1.0 V; (b,c) friction test results of functionalized GO additives with different voltage stimulation at (b) 2 N and (c) 10 N [131]. Reproduced under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Challenges of the large-scale production of GO.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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