Enhancing the Hydrophobicity of a Copper Pipe by Electrophoretic Deposition of Graphene Oxide

Abstract

Thin film coatings of graphene oxide (GO) onto copper pipe was investigating using electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique. Graphite oxide was produced from graphite powder by chemical oxidation using modified Hummers' method. An aqueous colloidal suspension of graphene oxide was prepared by exfoliation of the graphite oxide via ultrasonic treatment. GO coatings were deposited on copper pipes through EPD from GO aqueous suspension. The EPD parameters such as voltage, time and particle concentration were optimized to obtain uniform GO coatings. The optimal EPD conditions for well-formed deposits were observed when the operating voltage was equal to 30 V and 90 s deposition time. The thin film coated copper pipe was characterized using various techniques such as SEM, XRD and contact angle. XRD confirmed that GO was reduced during the EPD process itself due to the removal of oxygen containing functional groups. SEM images elucidated the formation of GO thin layer onto copper pipe with thickness 5 μm. The contact angle improved from 70° for bare copper to 102.4° for GO coating.