Highly scalable synthesis of MoS2 thin films for carbon steel coatings: influence of synthetic route on the nanostructure and corrosion performance

Abstract

Due to its numerous potential applications, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2; moly), one of the newly developing transition metals dichalcogenides (TMDCs), has exceptionally drawn high interest. Particularly in solution-based applications, MoS2 has potential that has not yet been completely realized. The structural and morphological characteristics of MoS2 films prepared by two diverse approaches for example chemical vapor deposition (moly/CVD) and autoclave (moly/AC) methods were investigated by scanning electron microscopy supported by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX), FTIR, transmission scanning microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The anti-corrosive performance of the uncoated and coated steel was investigated in 1.0 M HCl. Electrochemical tools such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) were completed to measure the corrosion protection properties. The moly/CVD and moly/AC coated 5-layer steel substrates showed a protection capability of 94.2 and 98.2%, respectively. The effect of the synthetic strategy and the film thickness on the corrosion characteristics was examined. Before and after exposure to the corrosive solution, the surface morphology of the uncoated and coated steel specimens was described using SEM. These MoS2 thin films are a new and cost-effective alternative to improve steel corrosion resistance and could be used to protect steel in environments with chloride acidic medium due to their unique physicochemical properties.