Bi-directional evolution of graphenic vacancy structure in oxygen plasma treatment

Yinong Chen; Shuyu Fan; Shu Xiao; Hu Zhang; Yi Wu; Jing Wu; Guoliang Tang; Fenghua Su; Paul K. Chu

doi:10.1016/j.triboint.2025.110529

Bi-directional evolution of graphenic vacancy structure in oxygen plasma treatment

Yinong Chen
, Shuyu Fan
, Shu Xiao^*
, Hu Zhang
, Yi Wu
, Jing Wu
, Guoliang Tang
, Fenghua Su
, Paul K. Chu

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The phenomenon of friction increase in graphenic materials during prolonged treatment in an oxygen plasma environment has been widely recognized. In this study, we report a possible oxidation state that leads to decreased friction during oxygen plasma treatment of graphenic materials through molecular simulations. We also propose a simple, clean, and efficient method to control the reverse structural evolution for controlled oxidation. Experimental applications demonstrated a 30.6 % reduction in friction and a 130.1 % increase in friction for short and long oxygen plasma treatments, respectively, compared to the initial graphenic vacancy structure. These findings contribute to an increased understanding of the response and modulation of graphenic coatings in oxygen plasma environments. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd

Original language	English
Article number	110529
Journal	Tribology International
Volume	204
Online published	13 Jan 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2025.110529
Publication status	Published - Apr 2025

Funding

We acknowledge the financial support from National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.52375182 & 52005187), Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (No.2023A1515012308), Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No.2023ZYGXZR030), Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangzhou (No.2024A04J3821), and City University of Hong Kong Donation Research Grants (DON-RMG 9229021 and 9220061).

Research Keywords

Defect engineering
Graphene
Molecular simulation
Oxygen plasma

RGC Funding Information

RGC-funded

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10.1016/j.triboint.2025.110529

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@article{5920daa13e8443528d521c6d098d1571,

title = "Bi-directional evolution of graphenic vacancy structure in oxygen plasma treatment",

abstract = "The phenomenon of friction increase in graphenic materials during prolonged treatment in an oxygen plasma environment has been widely recognized. In this study, we report a possible oxidation state that leads to decreased friction during oxygen plasma treatment of graphenic materials through molecular simulations. We also propose a simple, clean, and efficient method to control the reverse structural evolution for controlled oxidation. Experimental applications demonstrated a 30.6 \% reduction in friction and a 130.1 \% increase in friction for short and long oxygen plasma treatments, respectively, compared to the initial graphenic vacancy structure. These findings contribute to an increased understanding of the response and modulation of graphenic coatings in oxygen plasma environments. {\textcopyright} 2025 Elsevier Ltd",

keywords = "Defect engineering, Graphene, Molecular simulation, Oxygen plasma",

author = "Yinong Chen and Shuyu Fan and Shu Xiao and Hu Zhang and Yi Wu and Jing Wu and Guoliang Tang and Fenghua Su and Chu, \{Paul K.\}",

year = "2025",

month = apr,

doi = "10.1016/j.triboint.2025.110529",

language = "English",

volume = "204",

journal = "Tribology International",

issn = "0301-679X",

publisher = "Elsevier Inc.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Bi-directional evolution of graphenic vacancy structure in oxygen plasma treatment

AU - Chen, Yinong

AU - Fan, Shuyu

AU - Xiao, Shu

AU - Zhang, Hu

AU - Wu, Yi

AU - Wu, Jing

AU - Tang, Guoliang

AU - Su, Fenghua

AU - Chu, Paul K.

PY - 2025/4

Y1 - 2025/4

N2 - The phenomenon of friction increase in graphenic materials during prolonged treatment in an oxygen plasma environment has been widely recognized. In this study, we report a possible oxidation state that leads to decreased friction during oxygen plasma treatment of graphenic materials through molecular simulations. We also propose a simple, clean, and efficient method to control the reverse structural evolution for controlled oxidation. Experimental applications demonstrated a 30.6 % reduction in friction and a 130.1 % increase in friction for short and long oxygen plasma treatments, respectively, compared to the initial graphenic vacancy structure. These findings contribute to an increased understanding of the response and modulation of graphenic coatings in oxygen plasma environments. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd

AB - The phenomenon of friction increase in graphenic materials during prolonged treatment in an oxygen plasma environment has been widely recognized. In this study, we report a possible oxidation state that leads to decreased friction during oxygen plasma treatment of graphenic materials through molecular simulations. We also propose a simple, clean, and efficient method to control the reverse structural evolution for controlled oxidation. Experimental applications demonstrated a 30.6 % reduction in friction and a 130.1 % increase in friction for short and long oxygen plasma treatments, respectively, compared to the initial graphenic vacancy structure. These findings contribute to an increased understanding of the response and modulation of graphenic coatings in oxygen plasma environments. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd

KW - Defect engineering

KW - Graphene

KW - Molecular simulation

KW - Oxygen plasma

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85214781717

UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85214781717&origin=recordpage

U2 - 10.1016/j.triboint.2025.110529

DO - 10.1016/j.triboint.2025.110529

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 0301-679X

VL - 204

JO - Tribology International

JF - Tribology International

M1 - 110529

ER -

Bi-directional evolution of graphenic vacancy structure in oxygen plasma treatment

Abstract

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Research Keywords

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DON_RMG: Fabrication, Characterization, and Properties of Functional Materials - RMGS

DON: Surface Modification and Fabrication of Advanced Materials

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Bi-directional evolution of graphenic vacancy structure in oxygen plasma treatment

Abstract

Funding

Research Keywords

RGC Funding Information

Access Output

Other Access Options

Permanent Link

Other Files and Links

Fingerprint

Projects

DON_RMG: Fabrication, Characterization, and Properties of Functional Materials - RMGS

DON: Surface Modification and Fabrication of Advanced Materials

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