The ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-hexylimidazolium-bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)-imide was synthesized and evaluated as lubricant for the contact of steel/steel. The tribological properties of the ionic liquid as lubricant were investigated on an Optimol SRV oscillating friction and wear tester in ambient condition. The synthetic ionic liquid shows excellent tribological performance and is superior to the ionic liquid of alkylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate and the conventional high temperature lubricants X-1P and PFPE in terms of antiwear performance and load-carrying capacity. The elemental composition and chemical nature of the boundary film generated on the steel surface were analyzed on a scanning electron microscope with a Kevex energy dispersive X-ray analyzer attachment (SEM/EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS), and the XPS results indicate the occurrence of a complicated tribochemical reaction of ionic liquid with iron on the rubbing surface during the sliding process, with the formation of FeS, organic fluoride, inorganic fluoride, etc. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.