Fluorinated graphene film for corrosion control on copper: Experimental and theoretical studies

Although graphene film has received considerable scientific and industrial interest, the high electrical conductivity strongly limits its corrosion protection over a long-term scale. Here we develop an effective strategy to achieve the long-term corrosion protection performance of graphene film by fluorinated treatment. The success of fluorination strategy is evident in electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, local impedance module, and corresponding corrosion morphologies and structures. Even after 14 days’ immersion in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution, the low frequency impedance modulus of fluorinated graphene film with fluorinated treatment at 100 °C is an order of magnitude higher as compared with pristine one. The corrosion resistance over a large scale also persists in air environment. We propose that the fluorine atoms bond with carbon element on the edge of vacancy defects, inhibiting the corrosion-related molecules passing through the film via intrinsic defects, this is supported by the density functional theory calculations (DFT). In brief, through effective preparation, analysis of corrosion resistant performance, and theoretical calculation, the fluorinated graphene film with long-term anti-corrosion capability is highly expected to open a new platform for practical applications.