Synthesis Parameter-driven Performance of Green CeO₂ Nanoparticles: Antioxidant Efficiency and Corrosion Resistance of Mild Steel
J. Environ. Nanotechnol., Volume 15, No 2 (June 2026) pp. 711-725
Abstract
Cerium oxide (CeO₂) nanoparticles were successfully synthesized via a green synthesis route using Tinospora cordifolia leaf extract as a natural reducing, capping, and stabilizing agent. The synthesized nanoparticles were evaluated for their antioxidant activity and corrosion inhibition performance toward mild steel in acidic media. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the formation of nanocrystalline CeO₂ with a cubic fluorite crystal structure, while Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed the presence of phytochemical functional groups responsible for nanoparticle stabilization and surface functionalization. Morphological analysis indicated clustered nanoparticle structures composed of nanoscale crystallites, whereas dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements showed larger hydrodynamic diameters due to particle aggregation in aqueous suspension. The influence of synthesis parameters, including pH, temperature, reaction time, and extract concentration, on nanoparticle formation and stability was also investigated. The corrosion inhibition performance of the synthesized CeO₂ nanoparticles was assessed using potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and gravimetric weight-loss measurements. The nanoparticles exhibited concentration-dependent inhibition behavior, achieving a maximum corrosion protection efficiency of 82.5%. EIS results revealed enlarged Nyquist semicircles and increased charge transfer resistance, confirming the formation of a protective surface film on mild steel. Weight-loss studies demonstrated inhibition efficiencies of 23.5% after 24 h and 64.7% after 48 h of immersion. Furthermore, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays confirmed significant antioxidant activity, with the methanolic extract exhibiting superior performance. The results demonstrate that T. cordifolia-mediated CeO₂ nanoparticles possess effective antioxidant and mixed-type corrosion inhibition properties through adsorption-driven surface interactions, highlighting their potential as sustainable multifunctional materials for corrosion protection applications.
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Reference
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