In this study, a nanoscale ionic liquid (NIL) GO@SiO₂ hybrid was synthesized by attaching silica nanoparticles onto graphene oxide (GO). It was then functionalized to exhibit liquid-like behavior in the absence of solvents. The physical and chemical properties of the synthesized samples were characterized by means of a transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infra-red, Raman spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The tribological properties of the NIL GO@SiO₂ hybrid as a water-based (WB) lubricant additive were investigated on a ball-on-disk tribometer. The results illustrate that the NIL GO@SiO₂ hybrid demonstrates good dispersity as a WB lubricant, and can decrease both the coefficient of friction (COF) and wear loss.