AC impedance measurement of cystine adsorption at mild steel/sulfuric acid interface as corrosion inhibitor

Alternating current (AC) impedance measurements of mild steel/sulfuric acid interface in the absence and in the presence of various concentrations of cystine (Cys–Cys) have been carried out in the 100 kHz–10 mHz frequency range. The results revealed that Cys–Cys is a good and effective inhibitor for mild steel corrosion in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ and its percent inhibition efficiency changes with its concentration. Changes in impedance parameters indicated the adsorption of Cys–Cys on the mild steel surface, which was verified by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) photographs. Adsorption of Cys–Cys on mild steel surface was found to obey the Langmuir adsorption isotherm with a standard free energy of adsorption of −33.2 kJ/mol. Energy gaps for the interactions between mild steel surface and Cys–Cys molecule were found to be close to each other showing that Cys–Cys owns capacity to behave as both electron donor and electron acceptor.