Controlled ultra-thin oxidation of graphite promoted by cobalt oxides: Influence of the initial 2D CoO wetting layer

•Formation of a 2D CoO wetting layer with (D4h) instead of the conventional 3D character(Oh) of bulk CoO.•This wetting layer breaks the Carbon σ bonds of the graphite surface.•It allows the injection of oxygen into the graphite substrate.•The thickness of the oxidised graphite can be controlled via deposition of CoO.•These findings could be of great interest in applications using carbon-based materials.