A new graphene-based coating so thin that it's invisible to the human eye has been shown to make copper nearly 100 times more resistant to corrosion, creating potential for metal protection even in harsh environments.

In a paper published in the September issue of Carbon, researchers from Monash University and Rice University in the US describe how their findings could mean paradigm changes in the development of anti-corrosion coatings using extremely thin graphene films.

"We have obtained one of the best improvements that have been reported so far," said study co-author Dr Mainak Majumder. "At this point we are almost 100 times better than untreated copper. Other people are maybe five or six times better, so it's a pretty big jump."

To create the coating, the researchers applied the graphene to copper at temperatures between 800 and 900 degree, using a technique known as chemical vapour deposition, and tested it in saline water.

Initial experiments were confined to copper, although research is already under way on using the same technique with other metals.

This, according to Dr Majumder, would open up uses for a range of applications, from ocean-going vessels to electronics, offering significant cost savings for many industries.

While the process is still in the laboratory-testing stage, Majumder and his team are now not only looking at different metals, but also investigating ways of applying the coating at lower temperatures, which would simplify production and enhance market potential.