Fabrication of a Highly Tunable Graphene Oxide Composite through Layer-by-Layer Assembly of Highly Crystalline Polyaniline Nanofibers and Green Corrosion Inhibitors: Complementary Experimental and First-Principles Quantum-Mechanics Modeling Approaches

Abstract

Three-dimensional graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets were utilized as a unique versatile platform for the fabrication of an effective anticorrosion system through a layer-by-layer (L-b-L) assembly technique. In this way, the highly ordered crystalline polyaniline (Pani) nanofibers and green corrosion inhibitors (GIs) were synthesized. Sustainable corrosion inhibitors were obtained from the extract of Urtica Dioica leaves. The GO-Pani-GI nanosheets were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, high resolution–transmission electron microscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, UV–visible spectroscopy, and thermal gravimetric analysis. In addition, the adsorption features of Pani onto GO sheets and its binding propensity against GIs were assessed by applying first-principles quantum-mechanics (QM) modeling approaches. The anticorrosion properties of the GO-Pani-GI were then examined using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and polarization test. The results achieved from QM modeling studies demonstrated that the Pani strongly anchored to GO surfaces via physisorption mechanism. Computations further declared that all GIs interacted with Pani through intermolecular H-bonds. Moreover, the experimental investigations revealed the superior anticorrosion performance of multilayered graphene nanocomposites.

A critical review on the production and application of graphene and graphene-based materials in anti-corrosion coatings

“…[14,204] By utilizing graphene or its derivatives as nanometric fillers in the polymeric matrix, it is possible to lengthen the diffusion pathway of the corrosion medium in the coatings by taking advantage of its chemical inertness and barrier properties. [13] Graphene has heretofore been combined with a wide variety of polymeric materials, such as epoxy (EP), polyurethane (PU), [254][255][256][257][258][259] polyaniline (PANI), [227,233,[260][261][262] alkyd, [263] polystyrene (PS), [264] PMMA, [265,266] polyvinyl butyral (PVB) and [267,268] polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). [269] The lack of functional groups on the surface of pure graphene, its high surface area (and, consequently, high surface energy) and the Van der Waals interactions pose major challenges for the dispersion of graphene as filler particles in coating matrices, resulting in poor compatibility.…”

Adsorption and anticorrosive behavior of aromatic epoxy monomers on carbon steel corrosion in acidic solution: computational studies and sustained experimental studies

“…All calculations were performed using the G09 suite program. [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] To validate the Fig. 1 Schematic outline for the synthesis of two aromatic epoxy monomers AEM1 and AEM2.…”

Green solution to corrosion problems – at a glance

“…Leaves such as Urtica dioica leaves extract [2], almond (Prunus amygdalus) fruit leaves [3], Xanthium strumarium leaves [21], Piper guineense (uziza leaf) [22], Olive leaves [24], Glycyrrhiza glabra [26], extract of ginkgo biloba [28], extract of Prunus persica (P. persica) [29], Murraya koenigii (curry) leaves [32], Ziziyphus leaves [33], Aloe vera L. [35,81], Gongronema latifolium [36], Areca palm leaves [38], Chaenomeles sinensis (C. sinensis) leaves [39], Ficus carica (Fig tree) leaves [40], Mangrove (Rhizophora apiculata) bark and leaf [42], Urtica Dioica leaves [43], Murraya koenigii leaves [44], Bauhinia tomentosa leaves extract [47], Schreabera swietenioids leaves [53], camellia sinensis [87], leaves of Pistacia lentiscus from Saidia Morocco [90], leaves of Hibiscus sabdariffa [92], have been used as corrosion inhibitors.…”