Large-scale synthesis of NbSe2 nanosheets and their use as nanofillers for improving the tribological properties of epoxy coatings

• NbSe2 nanosheets of a few layers were fabricated.
• The fabrication method shows high efficiency and scalable production.
• NbSe2/epoxy composite coatings were fabricated.
• The composite coatings possess better friction-reducing and anti-wear performances.

The paper presents a facile and effective method to exfoliate bulk niobium diselenide (NbSe2) into nanosheets which were used as nanofillers to improve the tribological properties of epoxy coatings. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicates that the hexagonal crystal structure of NbSe2 nanosheet is preserved after ball milling. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) observations show that NbSe2 nanosheets were produced with sizes in hundreds of square nanometers and graphene-like structure. The tribological properties of NbSe2/epoxy composite coatings were systematically investigated and results show that they possess better friction-reducing and anti-wear performances due to the addition of NbSe2 nanosheets. It is demonstrated that the superior tribological properties is ascribed to a transfer film formed by NbSe2 nanosheets preventing a direct contact between steel ball and coating during the friction process. Furthermore, this work shows the potential applications of two-dimensional NbSe2 nanosheets as reinforcing nanofillers in polymer matrix.