Role of graphene defects in corrosion of graphene-coated Cu(111) surface

Protection of Cu(111) surface by chemical vapor deposition graphene coating is investigated. The X-ray photoemission spectroscopy results do not reveal any signs of corrosion on graphene-coated Cu(111), and suggest perfect protection of copper surface against interaction with atmospheric gases. However, the scanning tunneling spectroscopy results show that cracks in the graphene sheet open up windows for nanoscale corrosion. We have shown also that such local corrosions are not only limited to the discontinuities but may also progresses underneath the graphene cover. (C) 2013 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4795861]