Corrosion Inhibition Mechanisms in Coordination Complexes
Summary
Corrosion of metals, particularly iron and its alloys, poses a persistent challenge across industries from marine shipping to oil and gas extraction. Coordination complexes have emerged as versatile corrosion inhibitors by virtue of their tunable ligand architecture and metal–ligand electronic interactions. These compounds operate primarily by adsorbing onto the metal surface to form a protective barrier that impedes anodic metal dissolution and cathodic reduction of oxygen or hydrogen ions. Key mechanisms include chemisorption through heteroatom donor sites (for example nitrogen, oxygen or sulphur), π-electron interactions with the metal d-orbitals and the formation of insoluble complex films that enhance passivation. Optimisation of ligand denticity, electronic density and steric bulk has enabled the design of inhibitors that deliver high efficacy at low dosage, reduced toxicity and improved thermal stability. Computational modelling and electrochemical techniques have deepened understanding of adsorption isotherms, charge transfer resistance and film morphology, guiding the rational development of next-generation inhibitors with global relevance for infrastructure protection and environmental sustainability.
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Corrosion Inhibition Mechanisms in Coordination Complexes publication trend
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Technical terms
Chemosorption: Formation of a chemical bond between inhibitor molecules and the metal surface, often involving electron sharing or transfer.
Passivation: The creation of an inert film on a metal surface that slows further corrosion reactions.
Langmuir adsorption isotherm: A model describing the relationship between surface coverage of an adsorbate and its concentration in solution under equilibrium conditions.
Charge transfer resistance: A measure of the difficulty of electron transfer across the metal–solution interface, determined by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.
Mixed-type inhibition: Inhibition that simultaneously reduces the rate of anodic metal dissolution and cathodic reduction reactions.
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