Corrosion inhibition performance of 2-(2-hydroxybenzylideneamino)phenol (L(1)), 2-(5-chloro-2-hydroxybenzylideneamino)phenol (L(2)) and 2-(2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzylideneamino)phenol (L(3)) on the corrosion behaviour of mild steel surface in a 1 M hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution is investigated by sophisticated analytical methods like potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and weight loss measurements. Polarization studies showed that all the compounds are mixed type (cathodic and anodic) inhibitors and the inhibition efficiency (η%) increased with increasing inhibitor concentration. The inhibition actions of these Schiff base molecules are discussed in view of blocking the electrode surface by means of adsorption of the inhibitor molecule obeying the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies of the metal surfaces confirmed the existence of an adsorbed film. Density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation have been used to determine the relationship between molecular configuration and their inhibition efficiencies. The order of inhibition performance obtained from experimental results is successfully verified by DFT and MD simulation.

In order to evaluate the effect of the functional group present in the ligand backbone towards corrosion inhibition performances, three Schiff-base molecules namely, (E)-4-((2-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)hydrazono)methyl)pyridine (L(1)), (E)-4-(2-(pyridin-4-ylmethylene)hydrazinyl)benzonitrile (L(2)) and (E)-4-((2-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)hydrazono)methyl)phenol (L(3)) were synthesized and used as corrosion inhibitors on mild steel in 1 M HCl medium. The corrosion inhibition effectiveness of the studied inhibitors was investigated by weight loss and several sophisticated analytical tools such as potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements. Experimentally obtained results revealed that corrosion inhibition efficiencies followed the sequence: L(3) > L(1) > L(2). Electrochemical findings showed that inhibitors impart high resistance towards charge transfer across the metal-electrolyte interface and behaved as mixed type inhibitors. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was also employed to examine the protective film formed on the mild steel surface. The adsorption as well as inhibition ability of the inhibitor molecules on the mild steel surface was investigated by quantum chemical calculation and molecular dynamic (MD) simulation. In quantum chemical calculations, geometry optimized structures of the Schiff-base inhibitors, electron density distribution in HOMO and LUMO and Fukui indices of each atom were employed for their possible mode of interaction with the mild steel surfaces. MD simulations revealed that all the inhibitors molecules adsorbed in parallel orientation with respect to the Fe(110) surface.

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Water electrolysis is a promising approach toward low-cost renewable fuels; however, the high overpotential and slow kinetics limit its applicability. Studies suggest that either dinuclear copper (Cu) centers or the use of borate buffer can lead to efficient catalysis. We previously demonstrated the ability of peptoidsN-substituted glycine oligomersto stabilize high-oxidation-state metal ions and to form self-assembled di-copper-peptoid complexes. Capitalizing on these features herein we report on a unique Cu-peptoid duplex, Cu2(BEE)2, that is a fast and stable homogeneous electrocatalyst for water oxidation in borate buffer at pH 9.35, with low overpotential and a high turnover frequency of 129 s–1 (peak current measurements) or 5503 s–1 (FOWA); both are the highest reported for Cu-based water electrocatalysts to date. BEE is a peptoid trimer having one 2,2′-bipyridine ligand and two ethanolic groups, easily synthesized on solid support. Cu2(BEE)2 was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and various spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques, demonstrating its ability to maintain stable in four cycles of controlled potential electrolysis, leading to a high overall turnover number of 51.4 in a total of 2 h. Interestingly, the catalytic activity of control complexes having only one ethanolic side chain is 2 orders of magnitude lower than that of Cu2(BEE)2. On the basis of this comparison and on mechanistic studies, we propose that the ethanolic side chains and the borate buffer have significant roles in the high stability and catalytic activity of Cu2(BEE)2; the −OH groups facilitate protons transfer, while the borate species enables oxygen transfer toward O–O bond formation.

Two luminescent MOFs, Zn‐NDC and Cd‐NDC (NDC = 2,6‐naphthalenedicarboxylate), which are capable of sensing 2,4,6‐trinitrophenol (TNP) and similar explosives and mutagens, are reported. Of these two MOFs, Zn‐NDC shows better response in sensing nitroaromatics like TNP and 4‐nitrobenzoic acid (4‐NBA). Compared to Zn‐NDC, Cd‐NDC is more selective in the detection of explosive and pollutant nitroaromatics (epNACs). Cd‐NDC is a selective TNP sensor over several other tested epNACs: 2,6‐dinitrotoluene (2,6‐DNT), nitrobenzene (NB), 4‐NBA, 1,3‐dinitrobenzene (1,3‐DNB), 3,4‐dinitrotoluene (3,4‐DNT), and 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (TNT). For both d10‐NDC MOFs, TNP sensitivity is supported by fluorescence quenching. The experiments have been carried out with deionized water as well as various other environmental water specimens collected from several parts of West Bengal, India. Spectroscopic results are further supported by theoretical DFT calculations.