Experimental, quantum chemical and Monte Carlo simulation studies on the corrosion inhibition of some alkyl imidazolium ionic liquids containing tetrafluoroborate anion on mild steel in acidic medium

Quantum Chemical and Monte Carlo Simulation Studies on Inhibition Performance of Caffeine and Its Derivatives against Corrosion of Copper

Performance tests on caffeine’s corrosion inhibition properties and their derivatives against copper corrosion have been previously reported experimentally using gravimetric and electrochemical analyses. The test was able to measure the efficiency of their corrosion inhibition accurately. However, the caffeine and its derivatives’ structure patterns and coating mechanisms when interacting with metals during copper corrosion inhibition have not been explained in detail by experimental studies. In the present study, the theoretical density functional study (DFT), ab initio MP2, and Monte Carlo simulation approaches explain the problem. The geometrical and quantum chemical parameters of inhibitors were compared under normal and protonated conditions in the gas and aqueous environments. Theoretical studies can accurately determine the molecule’s geometrical parameters and successfully explain the quantum parameters of inhibitors. Molecular dynamics are applied to study the mechanism of interaction between inhibitors and metal surfaces in an explicit water molecule environment. The energy absorption of caffeine and its derivatives on metal surfaces was linear, with quantum parameters calculated from the density functional theory and an ab initio approach. Furthermore, these theoretical study results align with the previously reported experimental studies published by de Souza et al. The inhibition efficiency ranking of studied molecules preventing copper corrosion was caffeine > theobromine > theophylline. This theoretical approach is expected to bridge the gap in designing effective corrosion inhibitors.

Experimental and Theoretical Insights into the Synergistic Effect of Iodide Ions and 1-Acetyl-3-Thiosemicarbazide on the Corrosion Protection of C1018 Carbon Steel in 1 M HCl

Experimental insights into the synergistic effect of 1-acetyl-3-thiosemicarbazide (AST) and iodide ions on the corrosion of C1018 carbon steel in 1 M HCl solution were investigated using open-circuit potential (OCP), linear polarization resistance (LPR), electrochemical frequency modulation (EFM), potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Theoretical studies were further undertaken using ACD/LABS Percepta software, density functional theory (DFT) calculations and Monte Carlo simulation to understand the mechanism of the corrosion inhibition process and interpret the experimental results at the atomic and molecular levels. The electrochemical results obtained showed that AST alone inhibited the acid-induced corrosion of C1018 carbon steel. The inhibition efficiency increases with a concentration reaching up to 72.27% at 750 ppm of AST. The addition of 5 mM KI to 250 ppm of AST improved the inhibition efficiency to 81.64%. The solubility and protonated state results predicted using the ACD/LABS Percepta software showed that AST was highly soluble in the aqueous acidic medium and approximately 95% of AST exists in the neutral form in 1 M HCl (pH = 0). DFT calculations and a Monte Carlo simulation were utilized to predict the active reactivity sites of AST and calculate the lowest adsorption energy and configuration of AST alone and AST + iodide on/Fe (110)/water interface.

n-type polyaniline hole-blocking layer for high-efficiency QDSC by one-pot electropolymerization and selective aprotic cation ([EMIM]+) doping

In the field of clean solar-to-current devices, the photoelectron transfer process is essential for photovoltaic conversion in the typical n-i-p solar-cell structure. With regard to the oriented injection and ejection of photoelectrons, the development of hole-blocking layer (HBL) materials with a high electron transfer capability are exceedingly desirable. Profiting from the distortion of the p-π electron cloud attracted by a doped aprotic cation, a modified n-type polyaniline (PANI) as the HBL of a photoanode has been successfully fabricated through a facial one-pot square-wave potentiostatic electropolymerization method. In terms of flat-band potential, charge-carrier concentration and device impedance, the synthesized n-type polyaniline layer doped by aprotic ionic liquid (AIL; [EMIM] [EtSO₄]) (AIL-PA layer) for quantum dot solar cells (QDSCs) directly facilitates the high electron carrying capacity as well as the electron transfer driving force. Furthermore, the n-type polyaniline layer doped by AIL ([EMIM] [EtSO₄]) (AIL-PA layer) has a widely matching band gap for electron exportation and improved photovoltaic performance of CdS_xSe_1-x QDSCs: the power conversion efficiency is 10.5% and the J _sc is 21.59 mA cm^-2 for the device with an AIL-PA HBL. The electron diffusion length L _D is 8.07 μm for the photoanode with AIL-PA I and 7.58 μm for the photoanode with AIL-PA II.

Quantum chemical and experimental evaluation of the inhibitory action of two imidazole derivatives on mild steel corrosion in sulphuric acid medium

The adsorption and corrosion inhibition properties of two imidazole derivatives namely, 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,4,5-triphenyl-1H-imidazole (IM-Cl) and 1,4,5-triphenyl-2-(p-tolyl)-1H-imidazole (IM-CH₃) for mild steel in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ solution are studiedby electrochemical and computational calculations. The results obtained from the electrochemical methods show that IM-Cl and IM-CH₃imparted high resistance and behave as mixed type inhibitors. Inhibition efficiency (IE %) increases with the increase of inhibitors concentration to attain 96 % and 91% at 10⁻³ M of IM-Cl and IM-CH₃ respectively. EISdatais analyzed to model the inhibition process through appropriate equivalent circuit model. Thermodynamic and kinetic parameters controlling the adsorption process are calculated and discussed. DFT calculations are carried out at the B3LYP levels of theory with 6-31G (d,p) basis stein gas and aqueous phase for neutral and protonated forms. Quantum chemical calculations section of the study provides enough calculation and discussion on the relationship between corrosion inhibition and global reactivity descriptors.

Polyaniline/chitosan as a corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in acidic medium

The inhibition performance of polyaniline (PANI)/chitosan (CTS) on metal corrosion in 0.5 M HCl was studied using electrochemical measurements, quantum chemical calculations and morphological observations. Potentiodynamic polarization measurements show that PANI/CTS acts essentially as a mixed-type inhibitor. The inhibition efficiency increases and corrosion rates decrease with increasing concentrations of PANI/CTS. The relationship between experimental inhibition efficiency and quantum chemical calculations that were developed to describe the corrosion inhibition process are discussed.

Comparison of Electronic and Physicochemical Properties between Imidazolium-Based and Pyridinium-Based Ionic Liquids

To compare 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium ([BMIM]⁺)- and 1-butyl-3-methylpyridinium ([BMPy]⁺)-based ionic liquids (ILs) and investigate the influence of intramolecular and intermolecular interactions on physicochemical properties, a systematic study was performed on the electronic structures and physicochemical properties of [BMIM]⁺ tetrafluoroborate ([BMIM][BF₄]), [BMIM]⁺ hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM][PF₆]), [BMIM]⁺ hydrogen sulfate ([BMIM][HSO₄]), [BMIM]⁺ methylsulfate ([BMIM][MSO₄]), [BMIM]⁺ ethylsulfate ([BMIM][ESO₄]), [BMPy]⁺ tetrafluoroborate ([BMPy][BF₄]), [BMPy]⁺ hexafluorophosphate ([BMPy][PF₆]), [BMPy]⁺ hydrogen sulfate ([BMPy][HSO₄]), [BMPy]⁺ methylsulfate ([BMPy][MSO₄]), and [BMPy]⁺ ethylsulfate ([BMPy][ESO₄]) using density functional theory and molecular dynamics simulation. The results reveal that aggregation behavior exists in [HSO₄]^-- and [ESO₄]^--based ILs, and the differences between their densities and self-diffusion coefficients are smaller when there is an aggregation effect in ILs. A dimer is formed by two strong hydrogen bonds between two [HSO₄]^- anions in [HSO₄]-based ILs, and the existence of hydrogen bonds in ILs increases density and decreases the self-diffusion coefficient. The intermolecular interaction strength of [BMIM]⁺-based ILs is stronger than that of [BMPy]⁺-based ILs.

Adsorption and Computational Studies for Evaluating the Behavior of Silicon Based Compounds as Novel Corrosion Inhibitors of Carbon Steel Surfaces in Acidic Media

Two organo-silicon compounds namely; di-triethanolamine siloxane and bis (dithioamine triethanolamine) siloxane were employed as inhibitors for C-steel alloys corrosion in 1 M H2SO4 solution utilizing potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance and computational studies. According to both polarization and impedance data, it has been found that the investigated organo-silicon compounds work as efficient corrosion inhibitors and the protection aptitude raised by increasing the inhibitor concentration. The shown behavior of the tested compounds is cathodic and anodic type inhibition following Langmuir’s adsorption isotherm. The evaluated adsorption parameters, adsorption equilibrium constant (K ads) and Gibbs free energy of adsorption ( Δ G ads o ) $(\Delta G_{{\rm{ads}}}^o)$ reveal a good association between the inhibitor molecules and the surface of carbon steel in a predominantly chemisorptions manner. In the view of computational quantum and molecular dynamic simulation studies, molecular structure effectiveness and suggested mechanism of protection efficiency were discussed. Surface characterization studies such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) have been utilized as corroborative tools for confirming the presence of the defensive inhibitor film on the surface of a metal.

Interactions of Biodegradable Ionic Liquids with a Model Naphthenic Acid

Density functional theory models are used to examine five biodegradable ionic liquids (ILs) each one consisting of a substitutional group (-OH, -NH2, -COOH, -COOCH3, and -OCH3) incorporated into the cation of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIM][BF4]). The results reveal that hydrogen atoms in -NH2, -COOH, and -COOCH3 form intramolecular hydrogen bonds with fluorine atoms in [BF4]-, whereas hydrogen atoms in -OH and -OCH3 do not form hydrogen bonds with [BF4]-. Further analysis of electron density at bond critical points and noncovalent interactions suggest that [BMIM][BF4] with -COOH has stronger intramolecular hydrogen bonds than other ILs. The extraction mechanism for a model naphthenic acid is hydrogen bonding, with F···H being the strongest hydrogen bond and O···H ranking second. More intermolecular hydrogen bonds occur when model naphthenic acid is adsorbed by [BMIM][BF4] with -COOH and -COOCH3. The interaction energy between model naphthenic acid and ILs with -COOH and -COOCH3 is higher than that with -OH, -NH2, and -OCH3.

Theoretical, thermodynamic and electrochemical analysis of biotin drug as an impending corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in 15% hydrochloric acid

The corrosion mitigation efficiency of biotin drug for mild steel in 15% hydrochloric acid was thoroughly investigated by weight loss and electrochemical methods. The surface morphology was studied by the contact angle, scanning electrochemical microscopy, atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy methods. Quantum chemical calculation and Fukui analysis were done to correlate the experimental and theoretical data. The influence of the concentration of inhibitor, immersion time, temperature, activation energy, enthalpy and entropy has been reported. The mitigation efficiency of biotin obtained by all methods was in good correlation with each other. Polarization studies revealed that biotin acted as a mixed inhibitor. The adsorption of biotin was found to obey the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Surface studies showed the hydrophobic nature of the steel with inhibitor and vindicated the formation of a film on the metal surface that reduced the corrosion rate.

Zinc Oxide Nanocomposites of Selected Polymers: Synthesis, Characterization, and Corrosion Inhibition Studies on Mild Steel in HCl Solution

Nanocomposites of ZnO and some selected polymers, namely, poly(ethylene glycol), poly(vinylpyrrolidone), and polyacrylonitrile, were synthesized and characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The FTIR and UV-vis spectra confirmed the successful formation of the polymer nanocomposites. TGA results revealed that the synthesized polymer nanocomposites are more thermally stable than the polymers alone. ZnO nanoparticles were about 50-75 nm in size, assumed a rodlike shape, and got embedded in the polymer matrices, as revealed by TEM images. Corrosion inhibition potentials of the synthesized ZnO/polymer nanocomposites were investigated for mild steel in 5% HCl solution using potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), linear polarization resistance, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements. The results showed that each ZnO/polymer nanocomposite inhibits mild steel corrosion in 5% HCl solution better than the respective polymer alone. The nanocomposites, according to PDP studies, behaved as a mixed-type inhibitor. The predominant mode of adsorption of the nanocomposites to a mild steel surface was found to be mixed type, and the adsorption process obeys the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. Scanning electron microscopy images also revealed the protective attributes of the ZnO/polymer nanocomposites for mild steel in 5% HCl solution.