Review on the corrosion-promotion activity of graphene and its inhibition

Graphene films (GFs) and graphene-reinforced nanocomposite coatings (GNCs) have received unprece-dented attention for corrosion protection because graphene possesses a remarkable chemical inertness and is completely impermeable to aggressive chemicals. However, the high electric conductivity and pos-itive potential of graphene make graphene-based metal protectors tend to exhibit an undesirable high corrosion-promotion activity (CPA), which is widely known as the phenomenon that graphene connect-ing with metal accelerates the corrosion of metal substrate by inducing micro-galvanic corrosion at the defect sites of GFs or GNCs in aggressive environments. Therefore, inhibiting the CPA of graphene is cur-rently a key focus for the application of graphene in the field of corrosion protection. In this review, the mechanisms, influencing factors, and inhibition strategies of the CPA of GFs and GNCs are highlighted from the point of view of corrosion science to address the bottlenecks and challenges for future research and potential applications of graphene for corrosion protection. (c) 2021 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Chinese Society for Metals.

Automated summary

Graphene films and graphene-reinforced nanocomposite coatings have attracted significant attention for corrosion protection due to their chemical inertness and impermeability to aggressive chemicals. However, the potential for high corrosion-promotion activity in graphene-based metal protectors presents a challenge that researchers are actively working to address for future applications.