In situ synthesis of MIL-100(Fe) nanocages loaded with 8-hydroxyquinoline for sustainable corrosion protection

• An inhibitor-loaded MOF nanocage was synthesized with industrialization potential. • 8-HQ was in situ loaded during synthesis in an aqueous solution at room temperature. • Q-X@MILs show an optimal inhibitor addition amount when applied in sol-gel coatings. • The optimal coating maintains protection after long-term immersion. High-yield Fe-based metal-organic framework (MIL-100(Fe)) nanocages loaded with corrosion inhibitor 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ) were successfully synthesized through a simple one-step method in a hydrofluoric acid-free aqueous solution at room temperature. Sol-gel coatings doped with nanocages were applied to aluminum alloy 2024 substrate for enhanced corrosion resistance. The optimal 8-HQ addition was found, and the corresponding coating maintained approximately one order of magnitude higher | Z | 0.01Hz than the pure sol-gel coating after 14 d of immersion. This work proposes an eco-friendly and effective approach to safeguarding aluminum alloys against corrosion, offering smart and multifunctional applications.