Experimental complemented with microscopic (electronic/atomic)-level modeling explorations of Laurus nobilis extract as green inhibitor for carbon steel in acidic solution

In the present study, comprehensive research efforts were made to experimentally/theoretically examine the corrosion protection capability of Laurus nobilis leaves extract for carbon steel in an acidic medium composed of 1 M HCl. The experimental EIS results evidenced that upon steel exposure to a corrosive electrolyte containing 400 ppm L. nobilis leaves extract the maximum protection performance of 92% was obtained after 2.5 h. The experiments of potentiodynamic polarization proposed a mixed-type anodic/cathodic anti-corrosion action along with small cathodic prevalence. The electronic features established by the DFT approach highlighted that the surface adsorption mechanism could be described by donor-acceptor interactions.