The inhibition effect and mechanism of l-cysteine on the corrosion of bronze covered with a CuCl patina

Abstract

CuCl patina was synthesized on bronze electrodes with electrochemical method. The inhibition effect and mechanism of l-cysteine (Cys) on bronze covered with CuCl patina have been studied with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. The EIS results show that Cys stabilized the CuCl patina to a great extent. The hydrolysis reaction of CuCl was inhibited effectively and an inhibition efficiency of over 90% was achieved. The XPS analyses indicate that the chemisorption of Cys molecules on CuCl surface occurred through sulfur atom in thiol and nitrogen atom in amino group.