A Molecular Approach for Mitigation of Aluminum Pitting based on Films of Zinc(II) and Gallium(III) Metallosurfactants

The use of metallosurfactants to prevent pitting corrosion of aluminum surfaces is discussed based on the behavior of the metallosurfactants [ZnII(LN2O2)H2O] (1) and [GaIII(LN2O3)] (2). These species were deposited as multilayer Langmuir–Blodgett films and characterized by IR reflection absorption spectroscopy and UV/Vis spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy images, potentiodynamic polarization experiments, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to assess corrosion mitigation. Both metallosurfactants demonstrate superior anticorrosion activity due to the presence of redox‐inactive 3d10 metal ions that enhance the structural resistance of the ordered molecular films and limit chloride mobility and electron transfer. Avoid the pitfalls! Metallosurfactants containing zinc(II) or gallium(III) prevent pitting corrosion in aluminum surfaces when deposited as Langmuir–Blodgett films (see figure). These redox‐inactive 3d10 ions enhance the structural resistance of the organic framework and limit chloride mobility and electron transfer attaining superior inhibition efficiency of up to 77 %.