CorrWare software

Single electrochemical measurements are carried out with a PAR model 283 potentiostat (Princeton Applied Research) controlled by the CorrWare software (Ametek, France) or an Autolab Metrohm potentiostat controlled by the General Purpose Electrochemical System software (Metrohm, France). VMP2/Z multipotentiostat controlled by the ECLab software (Ametek, France) is used for several simultaneous measurements. All electrochemical experiments involve a saturated calomel reference electrode (SCE) (Radiometer, France) and a large-surface-area platinum disk as counter-electrode. 

Current-potential and current transient experiments were performed using a EG G PAR 273 potentiostat and Corrware software. Experiments on the Si/Au junctions were performed on a Solartron ECI 1286 and a FRA 1255 the experiments were done in the dark. Scanning electron microscopy was performed on an AMRAY 1860 FE at an acceleration voltage of 5 kV. The samples were flash-coated with carbon before loading into the chamber. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) was performed using a Topometrix Discoverer system. 

DC polarisation tests took place in a three-electrode electrochemical cell where the area of the working electrode (modified Al-2024 T3) exposed to the corrosive solution was 1 cm. For these measurements, a platinum foil and a SCE were used as the counter and the reference electrodes, respectively. Potentiodynamic tests were carried out by scanning the potential between -1 V and 0 V vs SCE at a rate of 1 mV s. The resulting graphics were fitted to the Tafel plots allowing the corrosion current and potential, and the polarisation resistance to be extrapolated. Corrware software was used for fitting. 

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