Producing carbon-based boundary films from catalytically active lubricant additives

An apparatus, comprising;

• a first member including a first surface;
• a lubricant disposed on the first surface, the lubricant comprising:
• an oil including a plurality of long-chain hydrocarbon molecules, and
• a quantity of a catalytically active metal-organic additive mixed with the oil, the metal-organic additive formulated to fragment at least a portion of the long-chain hydrocarbon molecules of the oil into at least one of dimers and trimers under the influence of at least one of a mechanical loading and a thermal loading;
• and
• a second member including a second surface, the second surface positioned on the lubricant disposed on the first surface, the first member configured to displace relative to the second surface of the second member such that the second surface slides on the lubricant during the displacing.

A method of preparing a lubricant, comprising:

• providing an oil including a plurality of long-chain hydrocarbon molecules;
• adding a predetermined quantity of a catalytically active metal-organic additive to the oil, the metal-organic additive formulated to fragment at least a portion of the long-chain hydrocarbon molecules of the oil into at least one of dimers and trimers under the influence of at least one of a mechanical loading and a thermal loading;
• and
• mixing the metal-organic additive with the oil to homogenously distribute the metal-organic additive in the oil.