Quantitative\nAdvantages of Corrosion Sensing Using\nFluorescence, Microscopy, and Single-Molecule Detection

The\ncorrosion of metals and alloys is a fundamental issue in modern\nsociety. Understanding the mechanisms that cause and prevent corrosion\nis integral to saving millions of dollars each year and to ensure\nthe safe use of infrastructure subject to the hazardous degrading\neffects of corrosion. Despite this, corrosion detection techniques\nhave lacked precise, quantitative information, with industries taking\na top-down, macroscale approach to analyzing corrosion with tests\nthat span months to years and yield qualitative information. Fluorescence,\na well-established optical method, can fill the niche of early-stage,\nquantitative corrosion detection and can be employed for both bulk\nand localized testing over time. The latter, fluorescence microscopy,\ncan be pushed to greater levels of detail with single-molecule microscopy,\nachieving nanometer spatial and subsecond temporal resolutions of\ncorrosion that allow for the extraction of dynamic information and\nkinetics. This review will present how fluorescence microscopy can\nprovide researchers with a molecular view into the chemical mechanisms\nof corrosion at interfaces and allow for faster, quantitative studies\nof how to detect and prevent corrosion.