Green preparation of in situ Cr3C2 nano-coatings on graphite surface and their water-wettability and rheological properties

Abstract Cr3C2 coatings were successfully prepared on the surface of graphite flakes via a molten salt route by mixing Cr powders with natural graphite flakes in a binary LiCl-KCl salt at 450–950 °C for 4–12 h. The phases and microstructures of the coatings were verified by its XRD/XPS spectra and SEM/AFM observations, respectively. Together with the dissolution/dispersion evidence of chromium powders after interaction with the salt, and the slightly increased particle sizes due to the formation of Cr3C2 coatings on graphite flakes, a ‘template-growth’ kinetic process was therefore proposed on the formation of such coatings in the molten salt. The resultant coatings decreased the contact angle between water and graphite from 101° to ~ 75° and lowered the apparent viscosities of graphite water slurry by two orders of magnitude accordingly, suggesting that the coatings will afford graphite with good processing abilities for carbon-water based materials.