Borophene-Based Green Lubricant Technology Developed by Indian Scientists

Borophene-Based Green Lubricant Technology Developed by Indian Scientists

#GS-3 #Science & Technology #Energy #Environment #Sustainable Development #Current Events #National #Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology #Nanomaterials

Why in News

  • Researchers at the **Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST)** in Guwahati have achieved a scientific breakthrough.
  • The institute operates as an autonomous body under the **Department of Science and Technology (DST)**.
  • They demonstrated the first-ever application of **borophene** as an additive in **castor oil** to build efficient green lubricants.

What is Borophene

  • **Borophene** is an ultra-thin two-dimensional nanomaterial created entirely from **boron atoms**.
  • It consists of a single-atom-thick layer and serves as the boron equivalent of **graphene**.
  • Unlike standard bulk boron which behaves as a semiconductor, **borophene** conducts electricity and heat like a metal.

How Borophene is Formed

  • Unlike graphene which can be peeled from graphite, **borophene** does not exist naturally in bulk forms.
  • Scientists synthesize **borophene** artificially using **Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)** or **Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE)** inside ultra-high vacuum chambers.
  • Pure boron gas evaporates onto clean metallic bases like **silver**, **gold**, or **copper** during production.
  • The metallic base transfers electrons to stabilize the flat layer, forming a unique chemical bond network.

Key Features of Borophene

  • It features direction-dependent physical properties, meaning its strength and conductivity change along different axes.
  • It possesses extraordinary mechanical strength and flexibility with a very high **tensile strength** and **Young's modulus**.
  • It forms durable protective layers under friction, which reduces surface roughness and mechanical wear.
  • Its electron-deficient surface makes it reactive enough to mix evenly into organic liquids like **castor oil** without chemical modifications.

Borophene as a Green Lubricant Additive

  • Industrial machines lose significant energy and face early component failure due to continuous friction and wear.
  • Although **castor oil** is a renewable and biodegradable lubricant, its natural performance remains limited without additives.
  • Adding just **0.1 wt.%** of **borophene** to **castor oil** cuts friction by nearly **42%** compared to pure castor oil.
  • The mixture forms a protective **tribofilm** containing **iron oxides**, carbon species, and boron compounds that absorbs heavy working loads.

Key Applications

  • This technology extends machine lifespan, lowers energy use, and improves operating efficiency in manufacturing industries.
  • It provides clean lubrication solutions for **renewable energy systems** and **marine transport**.
  • Its high storage capacity and fast ion transport make it ideal for **next-generation batteries**, **supercapacitors**, and **hydrogen storage**.

Prelims in Focus

  • The **Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST)** is located in Guwahati, Assam, under the **Department of Science and Technology (DST)**.
  • While **graphene** is made of carbon, **borophene** consists of boron atoms and must be synthesized artificially under vacuum conditions.
  • Combining plant-based lubricants like **castor oil** with 2D nanomaterials helps reduce industrial dependence on petroleum products.