Add just 0.1% of an exotic material to a common cooking oil, and friction drops by 42%. That is what Indian scientists just showed, for a material that had never been tried as a lubricant before.
MCQ QuestionsGenSci0034
Borophene-Based Green Lubricant
A 2D material once explored only for batteries, now shown to cut friction in a renewable oil.
2015
Borophene First Synthesised
Scientists first create this 2D boron material, on a silver substrate, after two decades of theoretical prediction.
Since 2015
Energy Applications Explored
Researchers study borophene for batteries, supercapacitors, and fuel cells — but never as a lubricant.
IASST, Guwahati
A New Experiment
Scientists add just 0.1 wt.% borophene to renewable castor oil, testing it as a lubricant additive for the first time.
22 JUL 2026
42% Less Friction
The findings, published in ACS Applied Engineering Materials, show a major cut in friction over pure castor oil.
Why it matters: friction and wear waste enormous amounts of industrial energy. A tiny amount of an already-useful 2D material, added to a biodegradable oil, could make green lubricants competitive.
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Must Know
- Borophene is a two-dimensional nanomaterial made of boron, similar in structure to graphene, but built from boron atoms instead of carbon.
- On 22 July 2026, PIB reported a breakthrough from the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST), Guwahati. IASST is an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
- Researchers added just 0.1 wt.% borophene to castor oil. This reduced friction by about 42%, compared to pure castor oil.
- This is the first-ever demonstration of borophene as a lubricant additive, anywhere in the world.
- The research was led by Prof. Devasish Chowdhury, with Ujjibit Boruah, an INSPIRE Senior Research Fellow, as first author.
- The findings were published in the journal ACS Applied Engineering Materials.
Good to Know
- Borophene was first synthesised in 2015, on a silver substrate, using molecular beam epitaxy. Scientists had theoretically predicted it decades earlier.
- Before this study, borophene’s known uses were in batteries, supercapacitors, and fuel cells. Its potential as a lubricant additive had never been explored.
- Castor oil is renewable and biodegradable, but its lubrication performance alone is limited. Additives like borophene can help it compete with conventional, petroleum-based lubricants.
- Friction and wear are major causes of energy loss and equipment failure across industry worldwide. Better lubricants directly cut energy waste and extend machine life.
- The borophene dispersed uniformly in castor oil, without needing any chemical modification. This is a practical advantage, since many nanomaterials need extra processing to mix into oils.
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Great to Know
- During operation, the borophene forms a durable protective layer, called a tribofilm. It contains iron oxides, carbonaceous species, and boron-based compounds, and it reduces shear stress while improving load-bearing capacity.
- A dose this small achieving such a large effect matters for real-world use. It suggests borophene-based lubricants could be scaled up affordably, without needing large material quantities.
- This research links two separate frontiers in materials science: 2D nanomaterials, and the push for competitive green lubricants. Potential applications include renewable energy systems, marine equipment, and sustainable manufacturing.
- IASST’s breakthrough reflects a broader pattern in Indian nanomaterials research. It takes a material developed for one purpose, energy storage, and finds an entirely new, practical use for it in lubrication.
Current Affairs
- On 22 July 2026, PIB reported that IASST Guwahati scientists demonstrated borophene as a lubricant additive in castor oil, for the first time anywhere. (Source: PIB)
- Just 0.1 wt.% borophene cut friction by about 42%, compared to pure castor oil. The team was led by Prof. Devasish Chowdhury, with Ujjibit Boruah as first author. (Source: PIB)
- The findings were published in the journal ACS Applied Engineering Materials. Researchers say the work opens a new avenue for borophene in sustainable lubrication technologies. (Source: PIB)
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