The corrosion behaviors of steel in[BMIM]HSO4 ionic liquid (IL) were investigated by immersion tests and molecular simulation. The corrosion rates of stainless steel 304 in IL were determined by mass loss measurement. The result indicates that the presence of H2O greatly enhances the corrosivity of IL. The distribution of HOMO and LUMO
Fukui indices and quantum chemical parameters on IL molecule were calculated. The results show that the imidazolium ring and hydrogen sulfate play the most important role in the interaction between IL and metal surface. The quantum chemical parameters of IL in aqueous solution significantly change. The chemical adsorption ability of IL becomes weak. The adsorption process and adsorption energy of IL on steel surface in water-free and aqueous environments were investigated by molecular dynamics simulation. The molecular simulation results are consistent well with corrosion results
which can provide a better understanding of the interaction between ionic liquid and metal surface at the molecular level.