Surface engineering of silicon dots with Gum Arabic for enhanced corrosion inhibition of Q235 steel in acidic environments

In this work, silicon dots (SiDs) were synthesized and surface-engineered by introducing Gum Arabic (GA), which were utilized as novel non-metallic quantum dots corrosion inhibitors for Q235 carbon steel in HCl solution. A comparative analysis was conducted on the synthesis, characterization, and inhibition performance, confirming the surface engineering can enhance their anticorrosion ability while maintaining the excitation and emission properties. Weight loss tests confirmed a corrosion rate decrease from 8.38 g·m^–2·h^–1 (blank) to 0.53 g·m^–2·h^–1 (100 mg/L GA-SiDs), achieving 93.68 % inhibition efficiency. Electrochemical tests revealed a polarization resistance of 1013 Ω cm² for GA-SiDs, significantly higher than the blank (54.88 Ω cm²), while polarization curves confirmed mixed-type inhibition with a corrosion current density reduction to 1.48 × 10^–4 A·cm^–2. Thermodynamic and surface/interface analysis demonstrated the inhibition mechanism: physical adsorption interaction, chemisorption coordination, and hydrophobic film formation. This work provides a sustainable strategy for designing non-metallic quantum dot inhibitors, combining high performance, cost-effectiveness, and environmental compatibility.