Preparation of a two-dimensional polymer film on passivated iron by modification of a carboxylate ion self-assembled monolayer with alkyltriethoxysilanes for preventing passive film breakdown

The effect of an ultrathin, regularly arranged polymer film on prevention of passive film breakdown on iron in the presence of chloride ion was investigated. The film of two-dimensional polymer was prepared by modification of a 16-hydroxyhexadecanoate ion HO(CH2)15CO2- self-assembled monolayer adsorbed on a passivated iron electrode with 1,2-bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane(C2H5O)3Si(CH2)2Si(OC2H5)3 and octyltriethoxysilane C8H17Si(OC2H5)3. The pitting potentials of the passivated electrodes bare and covered with the polymer film were determined by anodic polarization measurements in a borate buffer solution containing 0.1 M of Cl−. The pitting potential of the coated electrode was higher than that of the uncoated one, indicating prevention of passive film breakdown. No breakdown was observed over the potential range in the passive and transpassive regions by covering the passive film with the well-arranged two-dimensional polymer film. The film was characterized by X-ray photoelectron and FTIR reflection spectroscopies and measurement of the contact angle with a drop of water.