Functional coatings produced by electrospray with graphene oxide

The main goal of this project has been to develop a simple, green, and cost-effective large-scale production methodology for producing high-quality, ultrathin graphene and functionalized graphene derivatives coatings and thin films. In the project, Abalonyx / LayerOne has developed a range of graphene-based functional coatings using two different approaches:(I) electrospraying and (II)electroplating. Graphene coating materials are known to have different beneficial properties including anti-corrosion and UV-protection properties. Abalonyx / LayerOne has used electrospray/electroplating apparatuses set up by SINTEF to optimize the coatings and then characterize for the target properties. SINTEF has contributed with optimization and scale-up of the electrospray apparatus as well as characterization of coatings. Several coatings have been made by electrospraying/electroplating GO, rGO, graphene composites on different substrates including metals, polymers, and glass. All of the key parameters including temperature, humidity, type of the solvent, dispersion viscosity, electric field have been monitored and controlled to get the best quality coatings. The electrospray apparatus has been upgraded in order to increase the quality of coatings. Electroplating used as an alternative method to make graphene coatings. Several coatings has been made on different substrates such as stainless steel, Al, glass. XRD has been used as a simple and quick way to have a quality control of coatings. The coatings were further characterized by RAMAN, SEM, EIS and XPS. High quality coatings were obtained on glass. By electrodepositing a graphene nanocomposite coating on copper substrate, the corrosion resistance increases by 70%. EIS analysis shows 100% (%IE=%100) corrosion protection by applying a second layer of GO/PDMS. Better anti-corrosion properties can be achieved if Cu is covered by GO/PDMS nanocomposite (100%) than GO/PU (80%). N-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDots) coatings show UV protection across the whole UV range.

It was anticipated to graphene oxide coatings with corrosion protective properties. Coatings prepared in the project have been analyzed by SINTEF and we see very promising results in terms of anti-corrosion properties on Cu, Al and stainless steel. The merkets where we see the potentially largest impacts are in steel tubes for gas, corrosion protection on bridges and other metal in contact with sea water and on current collectors in energy storage - batteries and super capacitors.

In this project Abalonyx will develop Functional coatings produced by electrospray with graphene oxide, with special focus on anti-corrosion protective coatings on steel and aluminum. Abalonyx produces graphene oxide, a compound that is known to have anti-corrosion properties in certain formulations used to protect e.g. car parts. Abalonyx will use an electrospray apparatus set up by SINTEF to optimize the coatings and then characterize for the target properties. SINTEF will contribute with optimization and scale-up of the electrospray apparatus as well as characterisation of coatings and the University of Oslo will contribute with Raman characterization of the produced coatings and lead dissemination in scientific journals. Abalonyx will also as part of the project participate in a Eureka-SMART-project with Provexa AB and other Swedish and German partners, utilizing GO in anti-corrosive coatings by elctroplating. The main goal of this project is to develop a simple, green, and cost-effective large-scale production methodology of high-quality, ultrathin graphene and functionalized graphene derivatives coatings and thin films.