Mesoporous silica-based smart nanocontainers for corrosion inhibition: a mini-review

The application of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) as smart containers to distribute corrosion inhibitors gradually over time for metal protection has been well documented. This material possesses unique properties such as tunable surface and pore, high thermal and chemical stability, large pore volume and pore size, relatively low toxicity, and water solubility. These properties of MSN enable it to encapsulate large volumes of corrosion inhibitors which upon installation of an appropriate gatekeeper can release inhibitors at a controlled rate thereby improving the service life of coatings when dispersed within. In this mini-review, we look at the structure and properties of MSN, various synthetic routes reported in the literature, the nucleation and growth mechanism proposed thus far, some of the challenges still encountered in the synthesis of MSN as well as various ways it has been applied as a “smart” container for the controlled release of corrosion inhibitors in coatings.