DFT, Fukui indices, and molecular dynamic simulation studies on corrosion inhibition characteristics: a review

• Published in: Chemical Papers
• Main Author: Razali N.Z.K.; Wan Hassan W.N.S.; Sheikh Mohd Ghazali S.A.I.; Mohd Shotor S.N.; Dzulkifli N.N.
• Format: Review
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH 2024
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85174692531&doi=10.1007%2fs11696-023-03148-w&partnerID=40&md5=4cdeddb3356bdc1571b1ff9443a07057

The density functional theory (DFT), a well-known tool, can be employed to predict the high electron density position and HOMO–LOMO difference in energy in the inhibitor structure which has a high probability of donating electrons to the metal surface. Fukui functions are connected to the Frontier orbital theory (also known as the Fukui theory of reactivity and selection) and describe how nucleophiles target the highest occupied orbital (HOMO) while depositing their excess electrons in the lowest unoccupied orbital (LUMO). However, it is insufficient for predicting the corrosion inhibition mechanism occurring on the metal surface, such as the adsorption position of the inhibitor on the metal surface to form an adsorption layer. Hence, molecular dynamic (MD) simulation is a reliable method to better understand the interaction and adsorption behaviour of an inhibitor on the metal surface. MD was explored in the phase-related adsorption of the solution. The RDF can be used to identify the average interaction distance along with the number of metal atoms that are within a particular distance of the inhibitor molecule. It can be used to identify the type of adsorption. Hence, this review is focused on the compilation and brief elaboration of the DFT, Fukui indices, MD simulation, and RDF findings for the corrosion inhibition mechanisms. Graphical abstract: (Figure presented.). © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to the Institute of Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences 2023.