Investigating the inhibitive effect of Davidia involucrata leaf extract as a biological eco-friendly inhibitor for copper in acidic medium

• Published in: Journal of molecular liquids 2021-03, Vol.325, p.115214, Article 115214
• Main Authors: Zhang, Xin, Li, Wenpo, Zuo, Xiuli, Tan, Bochuan, Xu, Cheng, Zhang, Shengtao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AFM; Copper; FTIR; Inhibitor; SEM; XPS
• ISSN: 0167-7322; 1873-3166
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2020.115214

The inhibitive effect of copper in 0.5 mol/L H2SO4 by Davidia involucrata leaf extract (DLE) as inhibitor was investigated by means of experimental and theoretical methods. The maximun inhibition efficiency (η) acquired by electrochemical measurements are found to be close to 90% at different temperatures. The bonding information are detected by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) observations illustrate DLE can protect copper by forming an effective film. Also, Langmuir adsorption model is the most suitable to illustrate the adsorption mechanism of DLE on copper surface. The adsorption mechanism is further explained through quantum chemical calculation and molecular dynamics simulation. [Display omitted] •The main components of the extract are kaempferol, quercetin, pumiloside, and caffeic acid.•The extract is a mixed-type of corrosion inhibitor with physical/chemical adsorption.•Surface characteristics analysis confirmed the formation of a protective layer on copper surface.