Synthesis of polyaniline /CeO2 nanocomposites as inhibitor coating on zinc: Evaluation of the corrosion behaviour

In this study, Polyaniline/ceria nanoparticles (PANI/CeO2) nanocomposite (NPs) were preparedby in situ polymerization of aniline in the presence of CeO2 NPs . Ceria nanoparticles were produced viathe precipitation of cerium Ce(NO3)3.6H2O in water where the average hydrodynamic diameter of theobtained nanoparticles was about 8 nm (determined by nanosizer) . Infrared spectroscopy “FTIR” and whitelight interferometry analysis were used to characterize the obtained PANI/CeO2 and also theelectrodeposited coatings. To overcome the low solubility of the polymer /ceria nanoparticles, thecomposites was dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide solvent under ultrasonic stirring. The electrochemicalbehavior of zinc substrate in the corrosive medium with and without PANI / CeO2 addition was studiedusing d.c polarization techniques and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy “EIS”. All the obtainedresults have shown the good behavior of PANI/CeO2 in the protection of zinc against corrosion. Indeed, theaddition of 66 ppm of PANI / CeO2 to the aggressive solution 0.5N NaCl provides to the substrate anelectrochemical efficiency about of 77.74%. It has been shown that PANI /CeO2 acts on the anodic process.the hybrid PANI/ CeO2 NPs can be considred as an intersting way to enhance the protection performanceof the PANI/CeO2 on zinc