Nanoscopic characterization of Graphene oxide for anticorrosion application

Graphene, a two-dimensional carbon material, possesses exceptional properties such as high electron mobility, exceptional strength that surpasses that of steel, chemical resistance, environmental friendliness, and a large specific surface area. In this study, we used the modified Hummer process to produce graphene oxide, which was then applied to an aluminum alloy substrate as a corrosion-resistant coating. The aluminum alloy used in our study is AA2024, which has a wide application in industry and aircraft. The coating layer was characterized by micro-Raman spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM) before and after the reduction process. Micro-Raman spectroscopy provided information on the degree of reduction and the presence of functional groups in the coating layer. AFM images enabled the study of surface morphology and topography. After the reduction process, achieved by annealing in an argon atmosphere at 140 °C, micro-Raman spectroscopy and AFM microscopy were again used to assess structural and morphological changes. The reduction resulted in the formation of reduced graphene oxide (rGO), which exhibited improved conductivity and stability. The combination of micro-Raman spectroscopy and AFM characterization techniques provided detailed information on the properties and effectiveness of the coating layer. This research contributes to the development of anti-corrosion methods using advanced materials and surface engineering techniques.