Synthesis of Polymer-Grafted Carbon Dots Serving as Multifunctional Lubricant Additives with Excellent Tribological Performance and Additional Rust Resistance Function for Steel/Steel Contact.

Poly(bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric) methacrylic anhydride-grafted carbon dots (CD--PEPMA) have been controllably synthesized and used as multifunctional lubricant additives of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG200). The polymers on the surfaces of CD--PEPMA not only endow them with particularly excellent dispersion stability but also enhance their adsorbability on the steel surface and embedded stability between the rubbing surfaces. Hence, CD--PEPMA as an additive showed outstanding rust resistance and tribological performance.