Tailoring exfoliated 2D Mo-PDA nanopetals as sustainable intelligent anti-corrosion nanoreservoir for upgrading the self-healing/barrier function of epoxy coatings

[Display omitted] •Novel molybdenum-polydopamine nanopetals introduced as smart nanocarriers.•Loaded 2D platforms released shielding moieties at controllable rates in different solutions.•Hybrid films protected steel panels from corrosion under a mixed-type mechanism.•Nanocarriers improved active–passive protection durability, adhesion, and minimized rusting in epoxy coatings. The present study unfurled novel route to tailor cutting-edge molybdenum-polydopamine (AHPDA) and molybdenum-polydopamine-Ce3+/4+ nanocarriers (AHPDA@Ce) using in-situ self-nucleophilic polymerization techniques and scrutinized their intelligent anti-corrosion and physicomechanical properties in solution and coating phases. The manageable emancipation of Ce3+/4+,MoO42-, polydopamine (PDA) derivatives from exfoliated AHPDA and AHPDA@Ce nanocarriers at the extract solutions brilliantly reduced the icorr from 5.14 to 2.22 and 1.45 µA/cm2, respectively. Afterward, the derivatives assembled intricate barrier films at the electrochemical active sites, outstandingly restricting the severe corrosion on steel panels immersed in AHPDA@Ce and AHPDA extract solutions. Moreover, even after 48 h immersion, not only did the scratched EAHC (containing AHPDA@Ce nanocarriers) and EAHM (including AHPDA nanocarriers) coatings exhibit superior self-healing protection by 382 % and 327 % promotion in RTotal towards NE coatings (neat epoxy), but also intelligent EAHC and EAHM coatings tolerated the salt spray condition up to 1000 h exposure rather than 400 h of NE coating. Also, the intact EAHC and EAHM coatings after 24 weeks of submersion with noteworthy log|Z|0.01Hz of 10.51 and 9.98 Ω cm2 showcased boosted barrier-passive function lifetime with respect to the NE coatings (5.68 Ω cm2). Furthermore, smart EAHM and EAHC nanocomposites flaunted lower adhesion loss of 2.3 and 5.2 times, respectively, as well as, an incredible 76.11 % and 31.50 % improvement in the reduction of cathodic peel-off area regarding the NE coating. Ultimately, smart EAHC and EAHM coatings could be employed as eco-friendly effective anti-corrosion coatings with terrific self-healing/barrier function and durable service life in strategic knowledge edge applications.