A lubricant composition includes a base lubricant and a plurality of lubricant additive molecules. Each molecule includes a surface active group attractable to a target surface, wherein the surface active group comprises a carboxyl group, a siloxyl group, an amine group, or a mixture thereof, and a carbon containing component connected to the surface active group, wherein the carbon containing component comprises a carbon ring, wherein the surface active group and the carbon containing component are adapted such that the carbon film is formed in situ on the target surface of the target machine only when tribological energy activates the lubricant additive to unravel the carbon containing component under a pressure and a temperature during operation.