Comprehensive Review of Corrosion Inhibitors: Adsorption Behavior, Free Energy Analysis, and Spectroscopic Techniques

Corrosion inhibitors are cost-effective solutions for protecting metals from degradation. Their efficiency largely depends on the adsorption behavior on metal surfaces, which can be analyzed using adsorption isotherms and thermodynamic parameters, such as the standard free energy of adsorption (∆G°ads). Spectroscopic techniques such as FTIR help identify chemical interactions between inhibitors and metals, while SEM provides detailed images of surface morphology changes after inhibitor application. Combining these analytical methods provides a comprehensive understanding of corrosion inhibition mechanisms, thereby guiding the development of more effective inhibitors.