Preparation of nitrogen-doped carbon points modified by Schiff base and corrosion inhibition properties and mechanism

Preparation of nitrogen-doped carbon points modified by Schiff base and corrosion inhibition properties and mechanism | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Preparation of nitrogen-doped carbon points modified by Schiff base and corrosion inhibition properties and mechanism Zhongxu Cai, Yubin Su, Yang Li, Xiaoya Feng, Ruiquan Liao This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6263175/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 09 Sep, 2025 Read the published version in Journal of Nanoparticle Research → Version 1 posted 8 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Traditional corrosion inhibitors are constrained in their sustainable development due to high costs, significant environmental toxicity, poor degradability, and inadequate dispersibility. Although environmentally friendly carbon dot-based corrosion inhibitors hold potential as alternatives, their precise and controllable synthesis, as well as high-yield production, remain challenging due to existing technical bottlenecks. This study employs a "synthesis-modification" stepwise approach. Initially, a basic nitrogen-doped carbon dot corrosion inhibitor (N-CDS1) was synthesized. Subsequently, the target product, N-CDS2, was obtained through functionalization with Schiff base groups. By decoupling the complexity of the synthesis pathway, the challenge of precise structural control of carbon dots was overcome and achieving a yield of 62.5% for N-CDS2 in the second step. The structural and corrosion inhibition properties of N-CDS2 were characterized using a combination of advanced analytical techniques, including FT-IR, TEM, electrochemical testing, and SEM. The characterization results confirmed that N-CDS2 retains its carbon dot structure after functionalization and incorporates Schiff base functional groups. At a concentration of 90 mg/L, N-CDS2 demonstrated a corrosion inhibition efficiency of 98.56% for N80 steel in 1 M HCl at room temperature, significantly outperforming N-CDS1 (78.15% efficiency), which lacks Schiff base modification. The corrosion inhibition mechanism of N-CDS2 involves both anodic and cathodic suppression, with thermodynamic analysis indicating a mixed adsorption behavior that follows the Langmuir isotherm model. This study not only advances the practical application of carbon dot materials in the field of corrosion protection but also provides an innovative solution for the green transformation of industrial metal protection technologies. Carbon dots Schiff base modification nitrogen doping corrosion inhibitor green corrosion protection Langmuir isotherm model Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 09 Sep, 2025 Read the published version in Journal of Nanoparticle Research → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 01 May, 2025 Reviews received at journal 08 Apr, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 04 Apr, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 04 Apr, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 03 Apr, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 27 Mar, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 26 Mar, 2025 First submitted to journal 19 Mar, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6263175","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":442452838,"identity":"66a60bdb-179e-412e-b9d8-a17aeb34006f","order_by":0,"name":"Zhongxu Cai","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAz0lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYFACxgYGBgMbOfv2xsaHH4jXUpBmbMBzuNlYgnibPhxO3CCR3ibAQ4xi/vbDzZ95DA4nbpd82MYgwWAnp9tAQIvEmcQGwxkG6cY7Zye2PShgSDY2O0BAiwFDYkPCBwNr2Ybbie0GEgwHErcR1ML/sOFAggEzY8PNg20SPERpkUhsbPhg4Ky44QYjkVokbjxsZpxhkGYs2ZMIDGQDIvzC35/++DPPHxs5fvbjDx9+qLCTI6gF3Z2kKR8Fo2AUjIJRgAMAAHlXRTW0Kc7gAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"Yangtze University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Zhongxu","middleName":"","lastName":"Cai","suffix":""},{"id":442452839,"identity":"519af025-0041-46a5-8957-b69879776422","order_by":1,"name":"Yubin Su","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Petro China","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yubin","middleName":"","lastName":"Su","suffix":""},{"id":442452840,"identity":"ec57b831-fa2d-4f96-9114-5b7c2908627f","order_by":2,"name":"Yang Li","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Jilin Oilfeld Oil \u0026 Gas Technology Research Institute, CNPC， Songyuan","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yang","middleName":"","lastName":"Li","suffix":""},{"id":442452841,"identity":"852f4968-25b8-4adf-bcbb-6ea45120a00b","order_by":3,"name":"Xiaoya Feng","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Xi'an Changqing Chemical Group Co. 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