A stable graphene nanofluid for creating slippery, corrosion- and biofouling-resistant surfaces

Marine engineering materials face the challenges of corrosion and biofouling. In this study, a graphene nanofluid has been prepared by dispersing modified graphene in a common lubricant. Porous surfaces on Q235 carbon steel have been generated by applying the highly efficient texturing method—breath figure method and then infused with the graphene nanofluid. The coating thus obtained showed high stability, reduced oil-phase leaching, and a self-healing function. Moreover, the slippery coating exhibited a more than five orders of magnitude superior anti-corrosion performance and improved anti-biofouling properties. The developed graphene nanofluid coating has great potential for applications involving the protection of surfaces exposed to the marine environment.