Insights into the Corrosion Inhibition Mechanism of Steel in 1 M HCl by Coomassie Blue: Electrochemical and Theoretical Approaches

Corrosion inhibition is a broad and rapidly growing field of research, attracting increasing attention from scientists. This study focuses on the anticorrosive properties of Coomassie Brilliant Blue (CBB). The effect of CBB on the corrosion of steel in 1 M HCl was investigated using electrochemical techniques, including Potentiodynamic Polarization and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), as well as theoretical calculations based on Density Functional Theory (DFT). The results confirmed the strong adsorption of the inhibitor, forming a protective layer on the steel surface. The maximum inhibition efficiency was observed at a CBB concentration of 10⁻³ M at 298 K. Furthermore, the inhibition efficiency increased with increasing inhibitor concentration but decreased as the temperature rose. Keywords: Corrosion inhibition; CBB; Adsorption; Electrochemical techniques; DFT.