Introduction
The Institute of Tribology is the central laboratory of the State Key Laboratory of Tribology in Advanced Equipment at Tsinghua University. It mainly copes with researches on the theory of lubrication and friction control, tribological effects and control on fluid/solid interfaces, the theory and technology of surface modification, the theory and equipment of sub-nanometer smooth surface processing, and biological and bionic tribology. The institute currently engages 41 faculty members, including 13 professors/researchers, 15 associate professors/associate researchers, nine lecturers/assistant researchers, and four experimental technicians. The researchers are talents at all levels, including two CAS academicians, nine National High-level Talents, and 13 National Young Talents.
Talent Development
Since the establishment, the Institute of Tribology has cultivated a great number of high-level talents including postdoctoral students, doctoral students, and master's students. The institute has admitted more than 100 postdoctoral researchers, recruited over 300 doctoral students, of whom over 200 have obtained doctorate degrees, and recruited more than 300 master's students, of whom more than 200 have obtained master's degrees. Three doctoral dissertations were listed as the National Excellent Doctoral Dissertations. Faculty members at the institute offer many basic professional courses and high-level experimental courses for undergraduates and postgraduates. Talents at all levels cultivated by the institute have made significant contributions in the international academic community, key national enterprise and public institutions, and famous multinational companies.
Research Achievements
The Institute of Tribology conducts researches centered on motion systems focusing on surface/interface phenomena and mechanisms as well as surface/interface design and functionalization. On the one hand, catering to the national major demands, the institute carries out many researches in the fields of equipment for ultra-large-scale integrated circuit manufacturing, aero-engine spindle bearings, nuclear energy equipment for high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, and drag reduction for underwater vehicles; on the other hand, aimed at the international frontier, the institute explores the origin of friction, superlubricity mechanism, surface and interface molecular behaviors and control, etc. A series of theoretical results and key technological breakthroughs have been achieved.
Since its establishment in 1988, the Institute of Tribology has won four prizes of the State Natural Science Award, one prize of the State Technological Invention Award, one prize of the State Science and Technology Advancement Award, two prizes of the National Outstanding Scientific and Technological Book Award, more than 30 provincial and ministerial awards, and one prize of Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation Award for Science and Technology, one prize of the Science and Technology Achievement Award of the Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society, two prizes of the Highest Achievement Award of the Tribology Branch of the Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society, one prize of the Tribology Gold Medal Award of the International Tribology Council, one prize of the International Award of the American Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers, one Best Paper Award of the American Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers, and one Best Paper Award of the Journal of Engineering Tribology of the British Institution of Mechanical Engineers. More than 3,000 academic papers have been published, of which over 2,000 papers are included in SCI. We have obtained more than 1,000 invention patents in China, and published 10-plus academic monographs. In the latest five years, the institute has undertaken and completed over 300 major scientific research projects of various types.
