Synthesis and characterization of CeVO4 nanoparticles and evaluation of the corrosion inhibition properties of Zn–CeVO4 composite coatings on mild steel in 3.5% NaCl medium

Abstract

In the present study, CeVO₄ nanoparticles have been synthesised via a simple co-precipitation method, and their structural, morphological and optical properties have been characterised using XRD, FESEM, EDX, TEM, and UV-visible and FTIR spectroscopy. The synthesized nanoparticles were subsequently incorporated into a zinc matrix and electrodeposited on mild steel through an electroplating technique, and further analyses were conducted using FESEM, EDX, FTIR, and contact angle measurements. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization studies were conducted in a 3.5% NaCl solution to evaluate the corrosion resistance of Zn–CeVO₄ composite coatings. The results demonstrate that the inclusion of nanoparticles into the zinc matrices significantly enhances the corrosion resistance of mild steel.