Tribological properties of bis(tetraalkylammonium) tetrathiomolybdates as precursors of molybdenum sulfide nanoparticles

Tetraalkylammonium tetrathiomolybdate derivatives containing different alkyl groups as ligands have been synthesized. It has been found that the compounds exhibit antiwear and antifriction properties in dioctyl phthalate, a medium that models synthetic lubricating oil. A change in the surface profile (decrease in roughness) by the action of molybdenum sulfide produced from nitrogen-containing molybdenum compounds in tribocontact has been shown by atomic force spectroscopy.