Enhancing performance in copper corrosion inhibitors through molecular structural modifications: Mechanisms, design, and future pathways

[Display omitted] •The addition of corrosion inhibitors is an economical and effective method to prevent copper corrosion.•The mechanism of corrosion inhibitors is to adsorb on metal surfaces and isolate corrosive media.•Molecular structure modification can enhance the performance of inhibitors.•Green and efficient corrosion inhibitor obtained by molecular structure modification is the future development trend. This review article provides a comprehensive exploration of the mechanism of copper corrosion inhibition, with a particular focus on the promoting effects of various substituents and geometric configurations of inhibitors on inhibition performance. This work primarily centers around the role of substituents and the geometric structure of inhibitors, then categorizes the substituents based on their types, such as alkyl, amino, mercapto, phenyl, halogen atoms, and heteroatoms, and subsequently evaluates their enhancing effect on preventing copper corrosion. Additionally, the article delves into the realm of green corrosion inhibitors and offers insights into efficient inhibitor design and the future direction for corrosion inhibition. Overall, this review aims to provide valuable guidance for future research and development efforts, contributing to the development of environmentally friendly and highly efficient corrosion inhibitors.