Designing a high barrier, tough and self-repairing epoxy composite coatings with Ce-MOF decorated 2D α-ZrP smart nanofiller

Synergistical passive barrier enhancement and active self-healing has been an emerging tactic for developing prominent anti-corrosion coatings. Herein, a cerium/2-methylimidazole metal-organic framework (Ce-MOF) was that is in-situ grown on ultrathin α-ZrP nanosheets with outstanding dispersibility. The parallel arrangement of α-ZrP-based nanosheets within the epoxy matrix was driven by shear force from blade-coating technology optimizing the coating's physical barrier and self-repairing capability. This advancement may herald a new era in designing smart coatings and offering potent protection against diverse corrosion types such as filiform corrosion.