Sodium lignosulfonate-loaded ZnAl-layered double hydroxide decorated graphene oxide nanolayers; toward fabrication of sustainable nanocomposite for smart corrosion prevention

In this study, the NO3- intercalated ZnAl-based layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanostructures decorated graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets were synthesized, loaded with sodium lignosulfonate (SLS), and finally modified with aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS) to reach a high-performance corrosion inhibitor nanocarriers. The morphology and chemistry of the LDH-rGO nanostructures were evaluated by the FE-SEM, EDX, FT-IR, XPS, XRD, Raman, and TGA techniques. Characterization results of SLS@LDH-rGO nanostructures proved the uniform decoration of GO nanosheets with LDH nanolayers and the loading of the SLS inhibitor. The active/barrier corrosion mitigation ability (CMA) of the synthesized nanostructures was studied by EIS and potentiodynamic polarization (PP) tests in both solution (NaCl) and coating (epoxy) phases. Results showed the increment of the total resistance and decrement of the current density of MSSs immersed in the SLS@LDH-rGO extract by 358 and 79%, respectively, compared to the blank solution after 48 h. EIS results proved the bi-functional active-inhibitive/barrier CMA for the SLS@APS-LDH-rGO filled epoxy coatings. The total impedance of the intact SLS@APS-LDH-rGO filled epoxy coating was enhanced by about 9700% after 8 weeks compared to that of the blank coating.

Automated summary

In this study, high-performance corrosion inhibitor nanocarriers were synthesized by decorating and modifying graphene oxide structures. The morphology and chemistry of the nanostructures were characterized, and their corrosion inhibition ability was evaluated. The results confirmed the enhanced corrosion protection provided by the synthesized nanostructures.