Synthesis and Corrosion Inhibition Study of 1-Aminobenzotriazole for Mild Steel in HCl Solution: Electrochemical, Surface Analysis, and Theoretical Investigations

The corrosion inhibition performance of a novel corrosion inhibitor, 1-aminobenzotriazole drug (1-ABT), was comprehensively evaluated through a range of experimental and computational techniques. The effectiveness of 1-ABT as a corrosion inhibitor was investigated using weight loss measurements, electrochemical methods, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and quantum chemical/molecular dynamics studies. Experimental findings revealed a positive relationship between the inhibition effectiveness of 1-ABT and its concentration, while displaying a negative correlation with temperature. Notably, the highest achieved inhibition efficiency of approximately 98 % was observed at a concentration of 400 ppm. The adsorption behavior of 1-ABT on the metal surface was found to conform to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, indicating monolayer formation. The thermodynamic analysis further supported the physiochemisorption nature of the adsorption process. XPS analysis and theoretical investigations confirmed the adsorption of 1-ABT molecules onto the steel surface, with the interaction between the N atoms of 1-ABT and the vacant d-orbitals of Fe atoms playing a significant role. SEM examinations provided additional evidence, demonstrating a notable reduction in the corrosion rate in the presence of 1-ABT. These findings contribute to the understanding of the corrosion inhibition mechanisms and highlight the potential of 1-ABT as an effective inhibitor for mitigating corrosion in various applications. </em>