Characterisation of Cu-GnP composite coatings for friction control and wear resistance applications

•Cu-GnP coatings were realised through electroplating technology and successively mechanically characterised.•The morphology of the Cu-GnPs composite coatings is strongly influenced by the use or not of the last layer of Cu.•The Cu-GnP over perform the Cu-GnP-Cu coating with a friction coefficient of 0.29 until superficial clusters are removed.•Scratch tests showed that the material is deformed and dragged in front of the scratch trace without fractures or detachment.