An appropriate approach and computational studies for evaluating metal shielding features using diazenyl naphthalen analogues as sustainable corrosion inhibitors

The current work assessed the corrosion inhibitory efficacy of three ligands, namely methyl 2-((2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)diazenyl)benzoate(MDN), 1-((3,4-dimethylphenyl)diazenyl)naphthalen-2-ol (DDN), and 3-((2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)diazenyl)benzonitrile (HDN). Electrochemical and quantum methodologies, along with UV–Vis, SEM, and EDX, were employed. The anticorrosion process was comprehensively investigated. Potentiodynamic polarization validated the mixed type nature of inhibitors by demonstrating a drop in the cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction and the anodic metal dissolution, resulting to a significant decrease in corrosion current densities. Enhanced rates of effectiveness are achieved with higher inhibitor doses. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy investigations confirmed the formation of a protective layer at the metal/solution interface, demonstrating that charge transfer was the primary cause of mild steel corrosion. The inhibitory potencies of the studied inhibitors at 10−3 M were 94.65, 94.56, and 93.63