Theoretical and experimental insights into the C-steel aqueous corrosion inhibition at elevated temperatures in 1.0 M HCl via multi-carbonyl Gemini cationic surfactants

Abstract Despite corrosion being an inevitable process, researchers strive to control corrosion. In this study, our goal was prepare two amido Gemini cationic surfactants, LAPG and MAPG, each with different alkyl chains multiple carbonyl groups as rich electronic centers. We aimed evaluate these surfactants potential inhibitors for carbon steel (CS) in 1 M HCl at temperatures of 25–55 ± 0.1 °C. theoretical investigations, DFT parameters Mont Carlo simulation were run predict the adsorption affinity reactive sites MAPG molecules. Their efficacy investigated experimentally considering weight loss electrochemical techniques. The Tafel polarization revealed that mM current density ( i corr ) CS reduced lowest extent (75.56 53.82 μA cm −2 compared 529.3 absence inhibitors. EIS data suggests enhancement thickness adsorbed layers studied compounds from decrease double-layer capacitance C dl values. Langmuir isotherm explained adoption phenomena Activation thermodynamic predicted chemisorption behavior molecules onto surface. AFM XPS tools confirm surface protection due inhibitors’ layer. A parallel study showed superiority those reported earlier, making highly promising inhibitors, especially high-temperature acidic environments.