Review of Supramolecular Oleogel Lubricants

Supramolecular oleogel lubricants construct a three-dimensional network structure within base oils through gelator-mediated non-covalent interactions, such as hydrogen bonding, van der Waals forces, and π-π stacking. These materials demonstrate unique advantages in mitigating issues inherent to traditional lubricants, including leakage, volatility, creep, and poor heat dissipation. Focusing on structural design and performance regulation, this review systematically summarizes the current development of supramolecular oleogel lubricants in the fields of green lubrication, extreme operating conditions, and nanocomposite lubrication. Specifically, it outlines the structure-property relationships between gelators and base oils in green lubrication systems, and elucidates the applications in radiation-resistant, high-load-bearing, and intelligently responsive lubrication. Strategies for utilizing nanocomposite supramolecular oleogels to resolve nanomaterial dispersion challenges are discussed, and the latest advancements in engineering applications are illustrated. By summarizing the development of supramolecular oleogel materials, this work can provide theoretical references for the future design and preparation of these lubricants.