Polyoxometalate ionic liquid Hydrogel: An innovative Stimuli–Responsive Approach for effective corrosion product removal

Surgical instruments, such as AISI–420 and AISI–304, commonly made of titanium alloys and stainless steels, are tailored for specific surgical procedures. However, these instruments are prone to contamination and corrosion, primarily due to bacterial adherence and interaction between acidic environments and the metallic surface. To address this issue, herein, we synthesized an innovative hydrogel incorporating polyoxometalate-based ionic liquid (POM–IL) with chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol (Q¹⁰[V₁₈O₄₂] @ PVA–CS hydrogel). This hydrogel demonstrated exceptional corrosion product removal. It exhibited a well–defined morphology, superior thermal stability and effective corrosion product removal properties, capable of peeling off corrosion layers without damaging the underlying material as supported by SEM and EIS data. The Q¹⁰[V₁₈O₄₂] @ PVA-CS hydrogel was comprehensively characterized by fourier transform infrared, scanning electron, energy dispersive X–rays, powder X–rays, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. When applied to corroded scalpel handle, the hydrogel coating facilitated the removal of 6.1% weight without harming the scalpel surface. Electrochemical impedance measurements showed a significant charge transfer resistance reduction from 71.1 Kῼ (coated) to 34.2 Kῼ (uncoated) after removing the coating, highlighting its efficacy. These findings positions, Q¹⁰[V₁₈O₄₂] @ PVA–CS hydrogel as a multifunctional material with broad applications.