Synthesis and Structure of Water-Soluble Sb Quantum Dots and Enhanced Corrosion Inhibition Performance and Mechanisms

Generally, single organic or inorganic inhibitors could effectively inhibit corrosion for metallic materials; however, there are rarely reports about the hybrid corrosion inhibitors consisting of organic and inorganic inhibitors. Thus, in this work, we synthesize a hybrid environment-friendly water-soluble corrosion inhibitor (Sb quantum dots) containing Sb, Sb₂O₃, Sb₂O₄, and carbon using the electrochemical exfoliation method. The inhibition effectiveness in short- and long-term immersion tests is measured using electrochemical methods, weight loss, and surface analysis. The results exhibit that the corrosion inhibition efficiency sensitively relates to the concentration of Sb quantum dots (SQDs), which achieves the largest value as the concentration of SQDs increases to 200 mg/L. Atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and contact angle analysis reveal that the SQDs well-disperse on and cover the Q235 steel surface at 200 mg/L. According to the Langmuir adsorption data, the physicochemical adsorption and effective antioxidation of SQDs on the passivated Q235 steel surface are in charge of the effective corrosion inhibition efficiency in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ solution.