Enhanced Shielding and Corrosion Resistance of the ZCEOSS@PANI Composite by Polymer Encapsulation

To enhance the functionality of Ce/Eu codoped zinc oxide solid solution (ZCEOSS) in corrosion protection systems, polyaniline (PANI) with its multiple oxidation states and physical filling properties is in situ cladded onto ZCEOSS. The incorporation of PANI effectively fills the inherent pores of the ZCEOSS material, forming a dense, flat plate-like structure that significantly improves the barrier performance of the material against corrosive substances. Additionally, PANI serves as a transitional interface between the inorganic ZCEOSS material and the organic epoxy resin, improving compatibility issues by reducing interfacial defects and enhancing the stability of the protective layer. Beyond its structural role, the strong coordination capacity of PANI can coordinate with the multivalent rare-earth atoms in the ZCEOSS material, substantially improving the stability of PANI and enhancing the protective performance of the composite material. Tests confirmed that the corrosion inhibition performance of the ZCEOSS@PANI composite corrosion inhibition system far exceeds that of the pure epoxy resin, zinc oxide, and ZCEOSS composite systems, with enhancements of more than 14, 7, and 0.8 times, respectively. This study demonstrates the potential of integrating organic and inorganic components through atomic-level modifications and surface engineering to develop high-performance, practical anticorrosion materials for metals.