hard disks have brushless motors
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brushless_DC_electric_motor
they are usually more expensive but have been around for a long time.
AFAIK there is no substitute for graphite in a brushed motor, it is needing to transfer power to different sections of a rotating part in turn and does so by rubbing over a set of copper strips. That the graphite is soft is why it works well but also why it wears out rather than the commutator, which will survive several sets of brushes.
