Illinois engineers protect artifacts by graphene gilding

Gilding is the process of coating intricate artifacts with precious metals. Ancient Egyptians and Chinese coated their sculptures with thin metal films using gilding -- and these golden sculptures have resisted corrosion, wear, and environmental degradation for thousands of years. In a new study, University of Illinois researcher Sameh Tawfick, inspired by this ancient process, has added a single layer of carbon atoms, known as graphene, on top of metal leaves -- doubling the protective quality of gilding against wear and tear.