Adsorption and anticorrosion mechanism of glucose-based functionalized carbon dots for copper in neutral solution

Background This work aims at developing some environmental-friendly corrosion inhibitors for copper in neutral solution. Methods A glucose-based functionalized carbon dots (FCDs) was synthesized through a facile one-pot hydrothermal method. The inhibition performance of FCDs was firstly researched systematically on copper in neutral 3.5 wt% NaCl solution by potentiodynamic polarization curves, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and scanning vibrating electrode technique. The above electrochemical results show that FCDs is an effective corrosion inhibitor for copper in neutral solution, and its optimal corrosion inhibition efficiency exceeds to 88% at 70 ppm. The protective performance of FCDs depends on the coverage of adsorption film on copper surface. Its adsorption isotherm is in accordance with Langmuir adsorption model, involving both physisorption and chemisorption. Atomic force-distance curve directly quantifies the adhesion force between the adsorption film and copper surface. Significant finds The adsorption and anticorrosion mechanism of FCDs in neutral solution is proposed, which could provide theoretical guidance for design and synthesis of nanomaterial corrosion inhibitor.