Operando Characterization of Cr-Containing Alloy Passivation Film by Synchrotron Radiation

Abstract

In this study, electrochemical-ellipsometry spectroscopy, electrochemical-Raman spectroscopy, and electrochemical-synchrotron radiation source GIXRD techniques were combined to characterize the growth process of chromium-containing passivation films. The operando method can characterize nanometer-scale passivation films in details, and monitor the growth process of these films, which can not be solved sufficiently by uncombined traditional structural characterization techniques. As an example, Fe-18wt.%Cr steel was used to monitoring the passivation process, such as adsorbed species transform into stable species, and the dissolution of internal metals decreases. It means that the operando method developed in this work could be an effective way for monitoring the passivation.

Keywords: High-energy synchrotron radiation source, GIXRD-electrochemical techniques, Passivation films