▎ 摘　　要

Graphene coating has been proposed to be a promising oxidation barrier for metals because of its chemical inertia and physical impermeability. Nevertheless, chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-grown graphene on metal surfaces results in many structural defects and growth imperfections, which would serve as oxidative originators and favor a substantial galvanic corrosion at such interfaces in the long term. On this basis, oxidative originators including graphene structural defects and CVD growth imperfections of graphene on copper have been reviewed from the perspective of CVD growth of graphene. The associated oxidation processes and long-term corrosion mechanisms as a protective coating for Cu are discussed. Finally, the remaining challenges and potential improvement of graphene and graphene-like materials grown on surfaces as a barrier coating are outlooked. We aim to providing comprehensive knowledge about the relationship between various graphene defects/growth imperfections and the oxidation/corrosion mechanisms as a protective coating, seeking a roadmap to promote the development of cheap, powerful and effective barrier technologies based on such ultrathin two-dimensional materials.