University of Pittsburgh researchers have developed a novel series of ionic liquids (ILs) containing cations with highly fluorinated alkyl chains and anions with multiple fluorinated components. This liquid has the potential to be the next generation of nanometer-thick boundary lubricants.
Description
Boundary lubricants are critical to the correct functioning of nanoscale devices to avoid breakdown. Lubricants for this purpose must form nanometer-thick layers, be thermally stable particularly during tribology contact, be load carrying and self-healing. In addition to these properties, the series of novel ILs reported here also have low surface tensions, thereby addressing tribological performance limitations of current ILs and meeting a current unmet need in nano-electronics.
Applications
1. Nano-electromechanical systems
2. Micro-electromechanical systems
3. Ultra-thin adhesive coatings
Advantages
The current state-of-the-art lubricant, perfluoropolyether (PFPE), has limited thermal stability and a relatively thick monolayer (ML) due to the polymeric chain structure. As electronics continue to get smaller, PFPE will be unable to meet the needs of nanoscale electronics.
These novel ILs with small molecular sizes, excellent tribological properties, high thermal stability, negligible volatility, and low cost, overcome many of the disadvantages of PFPE. Additionally, through changes to the molecular size of an IL, it is possible to further decrease the ML. While some ILs have a higher surface tension than PFPEs limiting their use in nanodevices, these highly fluorinated ionic liquids have very low surface tension and the potential to be the next generation of lubricants used in nano-electromechanical devices.
Invention Readiness
A series of novel highly fluorinated ILs have been developed through the addition of CFx to cations and anions of the IL molecules resulting in lower surface tensions and better tribological performance. Methods of applying these novel ILs to surfaces has also been developed using a solvent-based dip coating process. This process allows for the alteration of the thickness of the lubricant layer in a controlled manner through dilution of the bulk solution.
IP Status
https://patents.google.com/patent/US11603504B2
