Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

This research is aimed at the development and application of modern spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques to study the behaviour of monolayers of small organic molecules at metal surfaces which are in contact with aqueous electrolyte. The influence of the electric charge and the composition of the electrolyte on the orientation, surface coordination, lateral interaction, protonation and oxidation states of the adsorbed molecules will be quantitatively determined in situ at gold, copper and, eventually, iron surfaces. Molecular level information extracted in the course of this research will help to advance the understanding of the mechanism of interaction of organic monolayers with metal surfaces. The obtained information will add to the knowledge of the operation and failure of corrosion inhibitors as well as adhesion of thicker protective coatings and paints. These barrier materials are used industrially for corrosion prevention and the proposed research will be useful for an intelligent design of superior materials. Contemporary barrier materials were developed predominantly by empirical and combinatorial approaches and studied either using ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) surface analytical techniques, that require removal of samples from their natural environment, or using electrochemical and impedance techniques, that probe the macroscopic, bulk properties of these materials. The proposed research will complement and enrich existing knowledge with microscopic, molecular level information obtained in situ, in an environment which is relevant to real field of operation of these materials. The proposed research is important for the protection of the environment and of construction materials against corrosion, especially in the oil and gas, petrochemical and power generating industries where corrosion inhibitors are extensively used. This work will also contribute to the basic research that is aimed at better understanding how organic molecules interact with interfaces. Such research is pivotal for the further advances of microelectronics and the emerging field of nanotechnology.