Friction, defined as the resistance encountered during the relative motion of contacting objects, accounts for a substantial portion of global energy consumption (approximately 25%) and is responsible for a significant proportion (around 75%) of mechanical failures. Hence, mitigating friction holds the potential for considerable economic impact. By reducing friction, not only can the operational lifespan of machines be extended, and their energy consumption decreased, but it also paves the way for the realization of envisioned systems that currently face challenges due to high forces, wear, and degradation in the contact between moving parts.

To address these limitations and unlock the benefits of reduced friction, SSLiP consortium seeks to integrate the principles of structural lubricity observed in two-dimensional (2D) materials with the disciplines of granular physics and tribochemistry. Through this interdisciplinary approach, SSLiP aims to overcome the constraints imposed by friction, facilitating the development of advanced lubrication technologies capable of improving machine performance, energy efficiency, and overall system reliability.

The SSLiP interdisciplinary approach will combine surface science, granular and soft condensed matter, statistical physics and computational chemistry, with the mechanical engineering field of tribology. Our team consists of world leaders in these areas, who have achieved important breakthroughs, and together will solve the challenge of getting superlubricity ready for use. The whole new research area that will arise around superlubricity, namely colloidal network lubrication, will take the superlubricity challenge to the next level and ensure that macroscale superlubricity is widely taken up by industry.