Fabrication, characterization and corrosion inhibition performance of sustainable metal-organic framework nanocomposite

The objective of this study is to develop novel and sustainable corrosion inhibitors, which is an important and challenging task in corrosion management. This study involved the fabrication of a novel nanocomposite (NC) via the cumin-derived carbon dots (CD) mediated functionalization of an iron metal-organic framework (MOF). The MOF@CD NC was tested as a novel corrosion inhibitor for Q235B steel in 1.0   M HCl solution. The anticorrosive potential was significantly improved through the functionalization process and gravimetric tests showed an inhibition efficiency of about 98% after 72   h immersion at 25 °C with an inhibitor concentration of 100   mg/L. FT-IR and XPS analysis indicated that binding and adsorption were achieved through functional groups of MOF@CD NC. SEM and AFM studies showed significant surface damage reduction and supported the formation of a powerful protective layer in the presence of inhibitor. This research represents a significant step forward in corrosion protection technology by introducing a new class of materials with excellent performance at low concentrations, offering a promising solution for industrial applications.