Strengthen corrosion resistance of epoxy coating by synergy of oxygen vacancies of CeO2 nanoparticles as charge capture centers and BTA/TEOS

To fulfill practical demands for metal protection, a more in-depth exploration of the corrosion resistance of cerium dioxide nanoparticles (CeO 2 NPs) is essential. In this work, biomimetic porous CeO 2 NPs, featuring a high concentration of oxygen vacancies , were synthesized using a sol-gel method. Biomimetic porous CeO 2 NPs, characterized by the presence of oxygen vacancies , served as nanocontainers for benzotriazole (BTA) loading. Following this, TEOS-BTA@CeO 2 NPs were prepared by introducing tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), a TEOS film encapsulating BTA@CeO 2 . Through electrochemical and salt spray testing, the 3 % TEOS-BTA@CeO 2 coating demonstrated superior corrosion resistance for the substrate when compared to both the 3 % CeO 2 coating and the 3 % BTA@CeO 2 coating. Throughout the entire corrosion process, the intelligent release of BTA facilitated by the TEOS film, coupled with the reduction in corrosion current due to oxygen vacancies serving as electron-capturing centers in cerium oxide, further enhances the corrosion resistance of CeO 2 NPs. This work marks a significant advancement in the exploration of nanocomposites for the practical utilization of CeO 2 NPs in combating metal corrosion.