Fluorescent Ce-MOF decorated glucose-derived 2D eco-friendly nanocontainers for corrosion protection and detection of steel

In this study, a fluorescence and Fe 3+ ions-responsive cerium-based metal organic framework is decorated on phytic acid-glucose hydrothermal copolymer-coated montmorillonite (MMT@CP@Ce-MOF) nanocontainer, which was developed for Q235 carbon steel's corrosion protection and detection in solution, waterborne epoxy coatings (WEP), and solvent epoxy coatings (EP). In the solution phase, the corrosion detection ability of Q235 carbon steel was introduced, relying on the Fe 3+ ions-responsive characteristic of MMT@CP@Ce-MOF. In the coating phase, WEP and EP with good barrier effect, active anti-corrosion, self-detection, and good mechanical performance were fabricated by integrating MMT@CP@Ce-MOF nanocontainers. The EIS results indicated that 2D MMT@CP@Ce-MOF based composite coating showed better anti-corrosion performance (the |Z| f= 0.01Hz value of EP-MMT@CP@Ce-MOF and WEP-MMT@CP@Ce-MOF remained 1.33 × 10 9  Ω·cm 2 and 2.71 × 10 8  Ω·cm 2 , respectively, far higher than the bare coating) after 40 d immersion. At the same time, the Ce-MOF nanosensor could accurately reflect the occurrence of corrosion at the coating damage sites. Furthermore, high adhesion force (2–3 times higher than bare coating) and results of coating fracture surface showed that homogenously incorporated MMT@CP@Ce-MOF could improve the composite coating mechanical properties by chemical interaction with the epoxy polymer.