Steel/iron corrosion is one of the major causes of infrastructure deterioration and failure, leading to significant economic losses and safety concerns. According to the national association of corrosion engineers (NACE) international, the worldwide cost of corrosion is predicted to be U$ 2.5 trillion, representing 3.4% of the global GDP. If this is extrapolated to Australia, the estimated cost would be 78 billion annually. Material deterioration also presents a major safety concern worldwide. Bridges, for example, are highly susceptible to corrosion. Between 2000 and 2014, about 300 bridge failures occurred in China, resulting in more than 500 casualties. The increasing frequency of extreme weather and environmental conditions is largely driven by human-induced climate change, which intensifies natural climate variability and exacerbates the impact of environmental degradation. Such changes generally accelerate material corrosion, which worsens the problem. Preventing materials from corrosion, development of corrosion resistant materials and corrosion inhibitors, holds the key to achieve sustainability, which requires understanding corrosion mechanisms at molecular level.