Preparation of surface coatings on a conductive substrate by controlled motion of graphene nanoflakes in a liquid medium

Controlled motion of graphene and graphene oxide nanoflakes in a thin liquid film on metal surfaces was studied to unravel the significant variations of the electric field effects on the nanoparticles. It was found that graphene oxide flakes were negatively charged and migrated toward anode while the electrically neutral graphene flakes moved toward cathode. Therefore, thin layers of graphene as a protective coating were produced to inhibit corrosion of underlying metals and reduce friction and wear-related mechanical failures in moving mechanical systems. The method does not require an insulated substrate to confine the high electric field to the fluidic layer. The motion of the nano-particles under pulsed electric current was very efficient. The observed effects were interpreted in a possible mechanism associated to the effect of electric field on the mobility of different particles in different conductive media. This significant phenomenon, combined with unique properties of graphene and graphene oxides, represents an exciting platform for enabling diverse applications on the preparation of protective coatings on an arbitrary conductive substrate over large areas.