Graphene Nanoplatelets Coating for Corrosion Protection of Aluminum Substrates

In this work, we study the properties of re-assembled graphene nanoplatelets as an effective anticorrosion coating for aluminum (Al) substrate in 0.5 M Sodium Chloride (NaCl) at room temperature (30°C). Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) as well as Raman spectroscopy reveal the high quality multilayer graphene nanoplatelets. The modifications of the corrosion resistance characteristic were investigated by Open Circuit Potential (OCP), followed by electrochemical tests such as potentiodynamic polarization (Tafel curves) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). The electrochemical results show that the graphene nanoplatelets provide effective resistance against the corrosive medium during the two weeks of immersion in the saline medium. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) studies carried out after immersion in the corrosive medium confirm that a graphene-coated aluminum surface is well protected compared to an uncoated substrate