STM observation of grain ripening during air exposure of the passive film formed on iron

  • Huihua Deng
  • , Hiroshi Nanjo
  • , Ikuo Ishikawa
  • , Nicholas J. Laycock
  • , Joanna Atkin
  • , Shaun C. Hendy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Stable scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images during the early stages of air exposure of the passive film on iron were successfully captured by a humidity-controlled method. The passive film formed at -0.4 V SCE in pH 8.4 borate buffer solution was first kept in humid air (47% relative humidity) at 15°C for 24 h and then exposed to dry air (<30% RH) at room temperature. Upon exposure to the dry air, the surface structure underwent a distinctly three-stage transformation, concluding with a grain ripening process that has not previously been observed in passive films. © 2005 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.
Original languageEnglish
JournalElectrochemical and Solid-State Letters
Volume9
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 10 2006

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