Nano-additives enabled advanced lubricants

A method of forming a solid film on a lubricated surface comprising the steps of:

• (i) providing a lubricant comprised of a dispersion of capped metal oxide nanocrystals, wherein the nanocrystals are capped with a surface capping agent;
• (ii) introducing the lubricant in a contact region defined by two surfaces in proximity, and
• (iii) forming the solid film in the contact region defined by the two surfaces in proximity by sliding and/or rolling the two surfaces in proximity so as to produce pressure and/or shear stress on the lubricated surface sufficient to remove the capping agent from the metal oxide nanocrystals and thereby cause metal oxide nanocrystals to bind with each other and to at least one of the two surfaces in proximity to form a solid film of bound metal oxide nanocrystals in the contact region which is adhered to the at least one of the two surfaces in proximity.