Characterization of anti-corrosive nanostructured coatings applied to metal surfaces in the field of cultural heritage

The search of alternatives to traditional coatings to protect ancient metallic substrate is highly relevant in conservation science. Graphene oxide (GO) is a promising alternative to polymeric coatings for protecting copper-based alloys, offering transparency and effective barrier properties. However, reliable deposition methods are needed to obtain homogeneous, adherent films on oxidized copper surfaces. This project aims to evaluate the protective performance of GO coatings, also together with Nps of Ceria, applied via Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) and Layer-by-Layer (LbL) techniques, after exposure to 1 M HCl vapor at 40 °C for 5 h. Synchrotron-based techniques (XRR, GID, GISAXS) will be used to assess film thickness, roughness, and nanostructure before and after aging. The goal is to correlate deposition method with film morphology, adhesion, and interfacial corrosion phases, gaining insight into the barrier properties and degradation mechanisms of GO coatings.