Nanolubricants and applications-nanotechnology in solid lubrication

The current direction of nanotechnology in the realm of tribology is outlined. The key issue on the micro/nano tribological studies to understand interfacial phenomena occurring in from micro/nano to macro structures is shown to be the exploration of the properties of a few atomic surface layers. Investigation of new materials represented by nanoparticles for surface films is another critical issue for tribology that provide advanced applications of the tribological systems from micro/nano to macro scale. The researches on carbon onion are briefly presented as an example of nanolubricants to introduce the current state of the studies on nanoparticles for innovative lubrication technology.