Direct Growth of Hexagonal Boron Nitride Nanofilms on Stainless Steel for Corrosion Protection

Protection of stainless steel from water, oxygen, and chloride ions is of crucial importance for diverse industrial fields; yet, it remains challenging to develop a proper solution with improved corrosion and oxidation resistance for long-term service durability. Here, we demonstrate the direct growth of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanofilms on the surface of stainless steel (ss304) by the magnetron sputtering method, serving as barrier coatings for protection in a corrosive environment. The obtained h-BN nanofilms are ∼200 nm in thickness, with a highly densified morphology, converting the hydrophilic surface of ss304 to a hydrophobic surface. These films exhibit excellent oxidation resistance at 600 °C in the atmosphere and enhanced anticorrosion performance as compared to the bare ss304. Moreover, they show robust and stable corrosion resistance when immersed in a 3.5 wt % NaCl electrolyte for over 10 weeks. The results suggest that the direct growth of h-BN nanofilms on ss304 holds great promise for corrosion inhibition and antioxidation of steel, therefore offering a feasible and effective route for long-term corrosion protection concerning practical applications of h-BN on industry-relevant surfaces.