Objective The project, EcoGemCoat, involves the preparation of smart anticorrosion coatings based on mesoporous silica nanocontainers loaded with innovative, eco-friendly cationic gemini surfactants as high efficient corrosion inhibitors of carbon steel in seawater with the potential application in marine and offshore industry.The main aim of EcoGemCoat will be achieved by performing four specific goals:1) preparation of novel corrosion inhibitors (synthesis of the surfactants and structure confirmation) with low toxicity;2) testing of the inhibitors (aggregation behaviour tests, biological tests, electrochemical corrosion inhibition tests);3) preparation of smart coatings (immobilization of surfactants, characterization of nanocontainers, release study, smart coating preparation);4) corrosion, mechanical and biological tests of the developed coatings.The proposed project involves different areas of science as organic chemistry (synthesis of inhibitors), analytical chemistry (aggregation behaviour, release study), electrochemistry (electrochemical corrosion tests), environmental science (toxicity and bioaccumulation tests) and materials science (mechanical tests), which makes topic interdisciplinary in nature. The research of encapsulation of the cationic gemini surfactants will be attempted for the first time, as well as the resulting type of smart anticorrosion coatings. Furthermore, the use of green inhibitors as additives of smart and eco-friendly coatings might change the coating Industry paradigm, answering to some of the EU societal challenges for the present and future decades. Equally relevant is the high quality of training to which the candidate will have access, thus fostering a reinforcement of the candidate’s position in the scientific community as an independent researcher and will ultimately have a significant positive impact on the fellow's future career in corrosion research. Fields of science natural scienceschemical sciencesanalytical chemistrynatural scienceschemical scienceselectrochemistryengineering and technologycivil engineeringwater engineeringocean engineeringnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesenvironmental sciencesengineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and films Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2017 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2017 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinator UNIVERSIDADE DE AVEIRO Net EU contribution € 148 635,60 Address CAMPUS UNIVERSITÁRIO DE SANTIAGO 3810-193 Aveiro Portugal See on map Region Continente Centro (PT) Região de Aveiro Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 148 635,60