Lumami (Nagaland): An international research team led by Nagaland University has identified lanthanide salts, a class of rare-earth compounds, as next-generation, environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitors, offering industries a sustainable alternative to hazardous materials.

The study, published in Coordination Chemistry Reviews (Elsevier, impact factor 23.5), outlines industrial applications in oil and gas, marine engineering, automotive manufacturing, and renewable energy infrastructure.

Corrosion inhibitors slow the degradation of metals exposed to air, water, or chemicals. The research highlights the largely untapped potential of inorganic salts, citing benefits such as low toxicity, compatibility, long-term stability, and effectiveness in both solution and coating phases. Lanthanide salts, the team found, can inhibit anodic and cathodic reactions, form protective oxides and hydroxides, and block the diffusion of corrosive species.

Led by Prof. Ambrish Singh of Nagaland University's Corrosion and Electrochemistry Research Group, the project involved eight PhD scholars and international collaborators from Khalifa University, UAE. Prof. Singh said the work integrates chemistry, mechanisms, performance evaluation, and prospects, noting lanthanide salts' strong adhesion to metal surfaces and stability in harsh environments.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Jagadish Kumar Patnaik said the discovery offers a “strategic pathway” for adopting safe, effective corrosion protection, aligning with global moves towards sustainable technologies.

Key findings point to improved performance when lanthanide salts are incorporated into polymers, graphene composites, sol-gels, and self-healing coatings.

The team emphasised the need for further computational modelling, advanced characterisation, and formulation optimisation to enable large-scale industrial adoption.