Hexagonal Boron Nitride : The Thinnest Insulating Barrier to Microbial Corrosion

• We report the use of a single layer of two-dimensional hexagonal boron nitride (SL-hBN) as the thinnest insulating barrier to microbial corrosion induced by the sulfate-reducing bacteria Desulfovibrio alaskensis G20. We used electrochemical methods to assess the corrosion resistance of SL-hBN on copper against the effects of both the planktonic and sessile forms of the sulfate-reducing bacteria. Cyclic voltammetry results show that SL-hBN-Cu is effective in suppressing corrosion effects of the planktonic cells at potentials as high as 0.2 V (vs Ag/AgCl). The peak anodic current for the SL-hBN coatings is ∼36 times lower than that of bare Cu. Linear polarization resistance tests confirm that the SL-hBN coatings serve as a barrier against corrosive effects of the G20 biofilm when compared to bare Cu. The SL-hBN serves as an impermeable barrier to aggressive metabolites and offers ∼91% corrosion inhibition efficiency, which is comparable to much thicker commercial coatings such as polyaniline. In addition to impermeability, the insulating nature of SL-hBN suppresses galvanic effects and improves its ability to combat microbial corrosion.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Materialkemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Materials Chemistry (hsv//eng)

Keyword

2D coatings

hexagonal boron nitride

microbial corrosion

sulfate-reducing bacteria

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)