title: Polarized Neutron Reflectometry of Nickel Corrosion Inhibitors.
abstract: Polarized neutron reflectometry has been used to investigate the detailed adsorption behavior and corrosion inhibition mechanism of two surfactants on a nickel surface under acidic conditions. Both the corrosion of the nickel surface and the structure of the adsorbed surfactant layer could be monitored in situ by the use of different solvent contrasts. Layer thicknesses and roughnesses were evaluated over a range of pH values, showing distinctly the superior corrosion inhibition of one negatively charged surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate) compared to a positively charged example (dodecyl trimethylammonium bromide) due to its stronger binding interaction with the surface. It was found that adequate corrosion inhibition occurs at significantly less than full surface coverage.
authors.affiliation: †Department of Chemistry and BP Institute, Cambridge University, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
authors.forename: Mary H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: †Department of Chemistry and BP Institute, Cambridge University, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
authors.forename: Rebecca J L
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Welbourn
authors.affiliation: ‡School of Biological and Chemical Science, Queen Mary, University of London, Joseph Priestly Building, Mile End Road, London, U.K.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zarbakhsh
authors.affiliation: §Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gutfreund
authors.affiliation: †Department of Chemistry and BP Institute, Cambridge University, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.
authors.forename: Stuart M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Clarke