Oxidation and electrochemical behavior of monolayer-graphene-coated copper in simulated primary water

Abstract

In high-temperature and high-pressure water, traditional anticorrosion approaches are not suitable to be used to protect structural materials from oxidation and corrosion. In this study, monolayer graphene was explored as a barrier to protect the materials from degradation. The oxidation and corrosion rate of the monolayer-graphene-coated copper is much lower than that of the bare copper, suggesting that the monolayer graphene can effectively protect the copper from oxidation and corrosion in the simulated primary water of pressurized water reactors.