Abstract:

This paper presents the experimental investigation of SERS spectra of the corrosion-inhibiting properties of 2-aminobenzimidazole and 6-nitrobenzimidazole on the copper electrode. The result suggests that the two molecules, except the loss of portons, are nondissociatively chemisorbed on copper and that adsorption occurs solely through interaction of the nitrogen atom with the copper substrate in the imidazole moiety. Their different abilities to act as corrosion inhibitors are discussed from the viewpoint of the cyclic voltammogram and the structural information obtained from SERS. An adsorption process for the molecules on the copper surface is also discussed.

Key words: Surface enhanced Raman scattering, Corrosion inhibitor, Copper