Fabrication, characterization and efficient surface protection mechanism of poly(trans-cinnamaldehyde) electropolymerized coatings for EH36 steel in simulated seawater

Electrodeposited Carbonyl Functional Polymers as Suitable Supports for Preparation of the First-Generation Biosensors

The aim of this electrochemical study was to ascertain which type of electrochemically deposited carbonyl functionalized polymer represents the most suitable electrode substrate for direct covalent immobilization of biological catalysts (enzymes). For this purpose, a triad of amperometric biosensors differing in the type of conductive polymers (poly-vanillin, poly-trans-cinnamaldehyde, and poly-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde) and in the functioning of selected enzymes (tyrosinase and alkaline phosphatase) has been compared for the biosensing of neurotransmitters (dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and serotonin) and phenyl phosphates (p-aminophenyl phosphate and hydroquinone diphosphate). The individual layers of the polymers were electrochemically deposited onto commercially available screen-printed carbon electrodes (type C110) using repetitive potential cycling in the linear voltammetric mode. Their characterization was subsequently performed by SEM imaging and attenuated total reflectance FTIR spectroscopy. Molecules of enzymes were covalently bonded to the free carbonyl groups in polymers via the Schiff base formation, in some cases even with the use of special cross-linkers. The as-prepared biosensors have been examined using cyclic voltammetry and amperometric detection. In this way, the role of the carbonyl groups embedded in the polymeric structure was defined with respect to the efficiency of binding enzymes, and consequently, via the final (electro)analytical performance.

Dragon Fruit Peel Extract Enriched-Biocomposite Wrapping Film: Characterization and Application on Coconut Milk Candy

Bio-based film is an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-based packaging film. The effects of biocomposite wrapping film enhanced with dragon fruit peel extract (0, 2% w/v, respectively) and currently used commercial packaging film (polypropylene; PP) on coconut milk caramels during storage (30 °C, 75% RH, nine days) were studied. Both 0% and 2% DPE-enriched biocomposite films were thicker and had higher water vapor permeability and solubility than the PP film but poorer mechanical characteristics. In addition, the 2% film possessed antioxidants and antioxidant ability. A FESEM micrograph revealed the rough surface and porous path of the biocomposite films. Over the storage time, the moisture content, water activity, and springiness of the coconut milk caramel candy wrapped in the PP and all DPE-enriched biocomposite films were not significantly altered. However, the lipid oxidation as the thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and hardness of all coconut caramels were significantly (p < 0.05) increased during storage. Furthermore, the hardness of coconut candy covered in the control (0% DPE) biocomposite film was more pronounced on day nine of storage. However, the changes in quality characteristics of the coconut candy wrapped in each film type need to be better established. The investigating factors influencing the quality deterioration of coconut milk candy should be further identified to mitigate their effects and extend the shelf-life of the coconut candy.

Optimized Anticorrosion of Polypyrrole Coating by Inverted-Electrode Strategy: Experimental and Molecular Dynamics Investigations

To improve the poor adhesion and the ensuing insufficient anticorrosion efficacy of electropolymerized polypyrrole (PPy) on copper surface, an inverted-electrode strategy was applied after the passivation procedure, for which the compact coating (PPy-I) was deposited on the substrate in a cathodic window. Morphological and physical characterizations revealed that PPy-I exerted satisfactory adhesion strength and suitable thickness and conductivity compared with the analogue prepared via the traditional protocol (PPy-T). Potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and frequency modulation were employed to ascertain the propitious protection of PPy-I for copper in artificial seawater (ASW). Due to the dominant electroactivity, the PPy-I-coated sample possessed higher apparent current density and lower charge transfer resistance than its PPy-T-protected counterpart, which maintained the passivation of the substrate. Surface analysis also supported the viability of PPy-I for copper in ASW for a well-protected surface with inferior water wettability. Molecular dynamics simulations evidenced that PPy-I with the higher density retained efficient anticorrosion capacity on copper at elevated temperatures. Therein, the derived time-dependent spatial diffusion trajectories of ions were locally confined with low diffusion coefficients. Highly twisted pore passages and anodic protection behavior arising respectively from the tight coating architecture and electroactivity contributed to the adequate corrosion resistance of PPy-I-coated copper.

Influence of Surface Pretreatments on the Anticorrosion of Polypyrrole Electro-Polymerized Coatings for Copper in Artificial Seawater

Plasma discharging treatment (hydroxylation) was conducted on copper surfaces for the subsequent electro-polymerization procedure of polypyrrole (PPy) coating (d-PPy). The hydroxylated surface could solve the criticized adhesion strength and protection efficiency of electropolymerized coatings for metal substrate in corrosive media. Compared with the counterpart obtained via passivation pretreatment (p-PPy), a well-adhered d-PPy layer was acquired on the hydroxylated copper surface, which earned a satisfactory adhesion grade, compactness and conductivity. Appreciable protection of d-PPy was measured for copper in the artificial seawater (ASW) at 298 K via electrochemical and surface analyses. Results of electrochemical measurements indicated that d-PPy coating effectively retarded copper corrosion in ASW with a lowered corrosion current density and improved charge transfer resistance. Surface analysis revealed that the typical morphology of PPy was retained after 240 h immersion in ASW. A favorable physical barrier and anodic protection efficacy might account for the superior protection of d-PPy coating for the underlying copper. Molecular dynamics simulations for the deposition of PPy chains on pristine and hydroxylated copper planes provided a definite correlation between the theoretical calculations and experimental observations. Theoretical modelling also disclosed in-depth the anchoring nature and anticorrosive mechanism for PPy toward the hydroxylated copper in ASW.

Efficient corrosion inhibition by sugarcane purple rind extract for carbon steel in HCl solution: mechanism analyses by experimental and in silico insights

Sugarcane purple rind ethanolic extract (SPRE) was evaluated as an efficient corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel (C-steel) in 1 M HCl solution. Dynamic weight loss, potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and frequency modulation (EFM) measurements were employed to evaluate the anticorrosive efficiency of SPRE, which was further validated by morphological and wettability analyses. The results of the weight loss tests showed that the inhibition efficiency (η_w) for C-steel in HCl solution increased with an increase in the concentration of SPRE. An increase in temperature moderately impaired the anticorrosive efficacy of SPRE. The maximum η_w of 96.2% was attained for C-steel in the inhibition system with 800 mg L⁻¹ SPRE at 298 K. The polarization curves indicated that SPRE simultaneously suppressed the anodic and cathodic reactions for C-steel in HCl solution, which can be categorized as a mixed-type corrosion inhibitor with a predominant anodic effect. The corrosion current density (i_corr-P) was monotonously reduced with an increase in the concentration of SPRE. The charge transfer resistance (R_ct) was enhanced for C-steel in the inhibition solution with a restrained capacitive property due to the adsorption of SPRE. A high temperature caused partial desorption of SPRE on the C-steel surface and a slight increase in i_corr-P and decrease in R_ct. However, SPRE still fully maintained its morphology and wettability at 328 K. The electrochemical kinetics of C-steel in HCl solution without and with SPRE was also supported by EFM spectra. The adsorption of SPRE conformed to the Langmuir isotherm and increased the corrosion activation energy of C-steel. Complementing the experimental observations, calculations based on density functional theory indicated that the hydroxyl-substituted pyran moiety on the carthamin (CTM) and anthocyanin (ATC) constituents in SPRE hardly contributed to its reactive activity due to their adsorption processes. Therefore, CTM and ATC exhibited imperfect parallel adsorption on the Fe (100) plane according to the molecular dynamics simulation, while anthoxanthin (ATA) and catechinic acid (CCA) constituents exhibited a flat orientation on the iron surface.

The anticorrosive mechanism of extracted components from sugarcane purple rind for carbon steel in HCl solution is clarified by weight loss, electrochemical and theoretical (novel DFT calculation and molecular dynamics simulation) analyses.