Enhancing the anti-corrosion performance of ZIF-8-based coatings via microstructural optimization

Abstract

Although still in their infancy, MOF-based coatings have shown great potential for their applications as anti-corrosion coatings. Nevertheless, an in-depth investigation of the influence of morphology on their anti-corrosion performance has rarely been conducted. In this study, ZIF-8-based anti-corrosion coatings with diverse microstructures were prepared by the facile hydrothermal growth of ZnAl–NO₃ LDH buffer layers followed by solvothermal treatment with ZIF-8 precursor solutions with different recipes. DC polarization tests demonstrated that the precursor solution containing only 2-methylimidazole led to the formation of ZIF-8–ZnAl–NO₃ LDH composite coatings with superior anti-corrosion performances probably due to the reduced grain boundary defect density.