Designing a novel targeted-release nano-container based on the silanized graphene oxide decorated with cerium acetylacetonate loaded beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD-CeA-MGO) for epoxy anti-corrosion coating

For the first time, cerium acetylacetonate (CeA) was encapsulated in a novel controlled-release nano-carrier based on the beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD)/graphene oxide (GO) for effective mitigation of the metal corrosion. The outcomes of the FT-IR, XRD, Raman, and UV-Vis spectroscopies displayed successful interactions of the beta-CD-CeA with the surface of GO nano-particles. Tafel curves proved that in the presence of the beta-CD-CeA/modified GO (MGO) nano-particles, the corrosion current density of metal was diminished from 7.62 mu A.cm(-2) (for the uninhibited sample) to 0.08 mu A.cm(-2). The EIS results achieved in the solution phase studies demonstrated that the total resistance (R-t) increased from 1469 Omega.cm(2) (for the uninhibited sample) to 12083 Omega.cm(2) (nearly 88% efficiency) after 48 h of exposure. The observations derived from FE-SEM, EDS, and mapping investigations confirmed the formation of anti-corrosive film over the metallic substrate in the solution phase. After nanoparticles incorporation into the epoxy (EP) matrix, the EIS evaluations from the scratched EP revealed that the R-t increased from 19430 Omega.cm(2) (for neat EP) to 59817 Omega.cm(2) after 24 h of exposure to the 3.5% NaCl solution, evidencing the effective corrosion inhibition characteristics of the designed composites. Besides, the FE-SEM and EDS/mapping analyses ensured that the defected zone of the epoxy coating was protected with a highly dense inhibitive film. EIS measurements clarified that the corrosion resistance of the intact neat EP coating (92 M Omega.cm(2)) improved significantly after the incorporation of beta-CD-CeA-MGO particles (similar to 5840 M Omega.cm(2)), demonstrating the coating barrier performance enhancement. Furthermore, the DFT modelings strongly affirmed the CeA and beta-CD affinity towards the epoxy resin.