Self-assembly of novel catechol-containing amphiphiles in oil: Mussel-inspired sticky-and-slippery boundary lubricants for future transport

We propose a high-pressure SAXS (HP-SAXS) study in collaboration with Infineum, a world-leading lubricant and fuel additive manufacturer, to examine the self-assembly behaviour of novel catechol-containing small molecule additives in oil. Our design is inspired by mussels which are molluscs living in the ocean, able to strongly attach to a range of organic and inorganic surfaces under harsh conditions using the bidentate chelation ability of a catechol-containing group (L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine; L-DOPA) and its synergistic interaction with lysine. Very little literature is available on the behaviour of catechol-containing molecules in oil. As the first step, three DOPA-containing molecules (N-palmitoyl dopamine, N-oleoyl dopamine, and N-arachidonoyl dopamine) and four catechol-containing small molecules with hydrocarbon tails and various additional functional groups will be examined via HP-SAXS.