Early-stage corrosion sensing via sequential fluorescence from sol-gel and ZnO layers: Self-healing ZIF-8 film-based composite coatings for aluminum alloys
Xu C, Zhang Z, Kasneryk V, Zeng D, Hu J, Wen S, Wang Q, Zhang Y (2026)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2026
Journal
Book Volume: 263
Article Number: 113705
DOI: 10.1016/j.corsci.2026.113705
Abstract
The critical need for smart coatings integrating real-time corrosion diagnostics and self-repair remains unmet due to the monofunctionality of conventional barrier systems. Within this study a hierarchical composite coating consisting of vertically aligned ZnO nanorod arrays, a ZIF-8 film, and a silane sol-gel layer was developed, which combines multiscale functionalities through interfacial confinement design. Fluorescence transitions from sol-gel layer to ZnO layer (475–550 nm) enable real-time monitoring of corrosion progress. The ZIF-8 layer presented in the coating serves two roles: as nanocontainers, it encapsulates external corrosion inhibitor 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, and it acts as an intrinsic inhibitor through its 2-methylimidazole ligands, enabling in this way synergistic self-healing properties. Scanning Kelvin Probe analysis confirms the self-repair mechanism, demonstrating a 500 mV reduction in potential disparity between damaged and intact regions. The coating with multifunctional architecture developed in the frame of the current study establishes a paradigm for smart corrosion protection systems by combining molecular-scale response with macroscopic durability.
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APA:
Xu, C., Zhang, Z., Kasneryk, V., Zeng, D., Hu, J., Wen, S.,... Zhang, Y. (2026). Early-stage corrosion sensing via sequential fluorescence from sol-gel and ZnO layers: Self-healing ZIF-8 film-based composite coatings for aluminum alloys. Corrosion Science, 263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.corsci.2026.113705
MLA:
Xu, Chenkai, et al. "Early-stage corrosion sensing via sequential fluorescence from sol-gel and ZnO layers: Self-healing ZIF-8 film-based composite coatings for aluminum alloys." Corrosion Science 263 (2026).
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