Direct Growth Of Graphene On Stainless Steel As Protective Layer Against Hydrogen Corrosion*

Graphene, a material that has been the subject of rigorous investigation by the scientific community for nearly two decades, boasts a number of remarkable properties, including its ability to prevent the passage of even very small gaseous molecules such as hydrogen. This latter gas is emerging as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels in significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, hydrogen poses a challenge due to its high permeation capacity, which leads to corrosion and embrittlement of transportation pipelines. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a protective layer that can extend the lifespan of these steel components. Herein we present the preliminary results of a research line within the POR H2 project, dedicated to exploring the application of graphene coatings as an effective anti-corrosion barrier, directly synthesized on stainless steel substrates using the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique.