Surface modification of graphene-coated carbon steel using aromatic molecules for enhancing corrosion resistance; comparison between type of aryl substitution with different spatial situations

The purpose of this paper is study of the type of functional group and its situation on phenyl molecule, in increasing the corrosion protection of modified graphene layers by it. Corrosion protection efficiency of graphene was raised via modifying the surface of graphene-coated carbon steel (CS/G) by using aromatic molecules. Phenyl groups with three different substitutions including COOH, NO₂ and CH₃ grafted to graphene via diazonium salt formation route, by using carboxy phenyl, nitro phenyl and methyl phenyl diazonium salts in ortho, meta and para spatial situations.

Molecular bindings were characterized by using X-ray diffractometer, fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/ energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA) methods. Anti-corrosion performance of modified CS/G electrodes was evaluated by weight loss and electrochemical techniques, potentiodynamic polarization (Tafel) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, in 3.5 per cent NaCl solution.

The obtained results confirmed covalently bonding of phenyl groups to the graphene surface. Also, the observed results showed that substitution spatial situations on phenyl groups can affect charge transfer resistance (R_ct), corrosion potential (E_corr), corrosion current density (j_corr) and the slope of the anodic and cathodic reaction (ß_a,c), demonstrating that the proposed modification method can hinder the corrosion reactions. The proposed modification led to restoring the graphene surface defects and consequently increasing its corrosion protection efficiency.

The obtained results from electrochemical methods proved that protection efficiency was observed in order COOH < NO₂ < CH₃ and MPD in the para spatial situation and showed the maximum protection efficiency of 98.6 per cent in comparison to other substitutions. Finally, the ability of proposed graphene surface modification route was further proofed by using surface methods, i.e. SEM and EDXA, and contact angles measurements.