XPS ANALYSES

XPS analyses aim to characterize the surface films formed on XC 48 steel after immersion in 1 M HCl for
24 h, with and without 900 ppm of theArtemisia Herba Albaextract. In order to compare the composition of
the surfaces film formed in the corrosives solutions, high resolution spectra of C 1 s, O 1 s, Fe 2p,,Cl 2p and
S 2p.
High-resolution of C 1s spectrum of protected carbon steel can be fitted into 5 components with
different intensities (Fig1b) First, 283,7 as binding energy is related to C-Fe[1], Second, 284.5 eV as binding
energy is related to C-C/C=C/C-H bonds[2]. Thus, the adsorbed C-C on carbon steel surface in the solution
containing inhibitor are due to the adsorbed Artemisia Herba Alba extractmolecules and not the non-
oxidized carbon rich contaminants as in untreated sample immersed in 1M HCl (Fig. 1a). Third, the presence
of C-O/ C=O bonds refers to 285,9 eV [3]and might be assigned to C=O that is presents in the molecules of
Artimisiamajor compound. The component at 286.9 eV may be assigned to the carbon atoms bonded to
nitrogen in C–N and C=N bonds proves to increase the adsorption of Artemisia Herba Alba extract
molecules in the surface of metal [4]The last component at a higher binding energy (located at approx. 288.3
eV) may be ascribed to the carbon atom of C=O bond and/or probably due to the C–N+ and C=N+[5].

Fig. 1: XPS spectra of C1s for XC48 steel after 24 h immersion in 1 M HCl solutionwithout inhibitors (a),
with Artemisia Herba Alba extract(b).

O 1s spectrum deconvolution (Figure 2) includes three compounds. The first twopeaks refer to iron oxides. It
−¿ ¿
could be assigned to O2 and might correspond to the oxygen atoms bonded to Fe3+ in the Fe2O3 and/or
Fe3O4 oxides[6]. Hence, O-Fe bond might appear which relies mainly on donor acceptor interactions,
between sp2 electron pairs existing on the oxygen of carbonyl group and the vacant d orbitals of Fe. The last
one is related to C-O-H/ C=O and adsorbed H2O[7].
Fig. 2: XPS spectra of O1s for XC48 steel after 24 h immersion in 1 M HCl solution without inhibitor (a),
with Artemisia Herba Alba extract(b).

Fe 2p spectrum (Figure 3) includes three elements, which correspond to 710.4 eV, 712.4 eV, 715.0
eV binding energies. The previous values are related respectively to: metallic iron[8], Fe2O3/Fe3O4/FeOOH
+¿ ¿
assigned to Fe3 ions and then Fe 2p1/2[9].

Fig. 3: XPS spectra of Fe 2p for XC48 steel after 24 h immersion in 1 M HCl solution without inhibitor (a),
with Artemisia Herba Alba extract(b).

N 1s spectra. The adsorption of inhibitor may occur in multilayer form, in which the first or most

inner layer might chemisorb to the iron substrate. This adsorption is assisted by the presence of surface

oxide (FeOx) via nitrogen atom assigned as N-Fe (Fig. 4), appeared at 397.5eV. The second component is

attributed to C-N and the unprotonated N atom (=N-structure) while the second is mainly attributed to the

coordinate nitrogen with the steel surface[10].the last peak at 401,6 (coordinated nitrogen atom and C-N-

metal connection) can be ascribed to quaternary nitrogen (NR4+ )[11].

Fig. 4: XPS spectra of N1s for XC48 steel after 24 h immersion in 1 M HCl solution with Artemisia Herba
Alba extract.
The Cl 2p spectra (Fig. 5) show two peaks. One peak at 198eV can be ascribed to Cl −, and the other
peak, appearing at 199.6 eV, is attributed to FeCl 3 [12], suggesting that the Cl− ion is adsorbed onto the steel
surface.

4500
198,0 Cl 2p
4000

3500
199,6
3000
Intensity (a.u)

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

196 198 200 202

Binding energy(eV)

Fig. 5: XPS spectra of Cl 2p for XC48 steel after 24 h immersion in 1 M HCl solution without inhibitor

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