Enhanced Corrosion-Inhibition performance of amino Gossypol: A comprehensive theoretical study

This study highlights the potential of amino gossypol as a green corrosion inhibitor. Comprehensive DFT calculations reveal that the electronic properties of amino gossypol, including HOMO and LUMO values, which indicate its strong electron transfer capacity and effective adsorption on steel surfaces. DFT research demonstrates a good electron transfer capacity with HOMO and LUMO values of −5.1103 eV and −0.947 eV, respectively. The study employs (molecular dynamics (MD) and Monte Carlo (MC)) simulations to investigate the interaction dynamics of amino gossypol with steel, demonstrating robust adsorption energy and the formation of a stable protective layer. The inhibitor’s adsorption energy of −65.108 Kcal/mol shows robust and spontaneous adhesion to steel, increased by its optimized molecular structure and physisorption and chemisorption methods. The substantial polarizability (${\gamma }_{Inh}^{DFT}$ = 452.31) and specific charge distribution, with significant negative charges on oxygen atoms, facilitate efficient corrosion inhibition. Theoretical results, including reactivity indices such as chemical softness (0.4804) and electrophilicity index (2.2031), establish a strong platform for future practical investigation and possible commercial use of amino gossypol. MD simulations confirm the formation of a stable and persistent protective layer on Fe(110) surfaces. Amino gossypol is presented as an environmentally friendly and sustainable corrosion inhibitor, aligning with the growing demand for green industrial solutions. The theoretical and computational analyses predict significant corrosion inhibition performance of amino gossypol, supported by its optimized molecular structure and strong binding affinity to steel.