Passive films electrochemical

In tenns of an electrochemical treatment, passivation of a surface represents a significant deviation from ideal electrode behaviour. As mentioned above, for a metal immersed in an electrolyte, the conditions can be such as predicted by the Pourbaix diagram that fonnation of a second-phase film—usually an insoluble surface oxide film—is favoured compared with dissolution (solvation) of the oxidized anion. Depending on the quality of the oxide film, the fonnation of a surface layer can retard further dissolution and virtually stop it after some time. Such surface layers are called passive films. This type of film provides the comparably high chemical stability of many important constmction materials such as aluminium or stainless steels. 

Highly protective layers can also fonn in gaseous environments at ambient temperatures by a redox reaction similar to that in an aqueous electrolyte, i.e. by oxygen reduction combined with metal oxidation. The thickness of spontaneously fonned oxide films is typically in the range of 1-3 nm, i.e., of similar thickness to electrochemical passive films. Substantially thicker anodic films can be fonned on so-called valve metals (Ti, Ta, Zr,. ..), which allow the application of anodizing potentials (high electric fields) without dielectric breakdown. 

The protective quality of the passive film is detennined by the ion transfer tlirough the film as well as the stability of the film with respect to dissolution. The dissolution of passive oxide films can occur either chemically or electrochemically. The latter case takes place if an oxidized or reduced component of the passive film is more soluble in the electrolyte than the original component. An example of this is the oxidative dissolution of CrjO ... 

Use and Uimitations of Electrochemical Techniques A major caution must be noted as to the general, indiscriminate use of all electrochemical tests, especially the use of AC and EIS test techniques, for the study of corrosion systems. AC and EIS techniques are apphcable for the evaluation of very thin films or deposits that are uniform, constant, and stable—for example, thin-film protective coatings. Sometimes, researchers do not recognize the dynamic nature of some passive films, corrosion produc ts, or deposits from other sources nor do they even consider the possibility of a change in the surface conditions during the course of their experiment. As an example, it is note-... 

Other corrosion inhibitors also enhance passivity without electrochemical reduction, by depositing insoluble oxidation products into the passivating film. For example benzoate ions cause deposition of ferric benzoate into the oxide, but do not provide any cathodic reaction. 

Hitzig et al. have produced a simplified model of the aluminium oxide layer(s) to explain impedance data of specimens prepared under different layer formation and sealing conditionsThe model also gives consideration to the formation of active and passive pits in the oxide layer. Shaw et al. have shown that it is possible to electrochemically incorporate molybdenum into the passive film which, as previously noted, improves the pitting resistance. 

Passivating agents are chemicals that promote the formation of a passivating film on the surface of a metal or alloy, such that the electrochemical behavior of the metal or alloy then approaches that of an appreciably more noble metal. 

Figure 5. Thickness of the anodic passivating film formed on iron at various potentials.6 9 Lbl and Lr, are the thicknesses of the barrier layer and the precipitated layer, respectively. Temperature is 25°C. , in a 150 mol m 3 phosphate buffer solution at pH 1.85 O, in a 300 mol m 3 borate buffer solution at pH 8.2. (From N. Sato, K. Kudo, and T. Noda, Z Phys. Chem. N. F. 98,271,1975, Fig. 5, reproduced with permission and N. Sato, K. Kudo, and R. Nishimura, / Elec-trochem. Soc, 123,1420,1976, Fig. 1. Reproduced with permission of the Electrochemical Society, Inc.)...

Ham D, Mishra KK, Rajeshwar K (1991) Anodic electrosynthesis of cadmium selenide thin films. Characterization and comparison with the passive/transpassive behavior of the CdX (X = S, Te) counterparts. J Electrochem Soc 138 100-108 Stimming U (1985) Photoelectrochemical studies of passive films (Review Article). Electrochim Acta 31 ... 

The concepts and basic approach used in studies of electrical fluctuations in corrosion processes proved to be very successful as well in mechanistic studies of electrode reactions taking place at materials covered by passivating films. A typical example is the electrochemical dissolution of silicon. From an analysis of the noise characteristics of this process, it has been possible to identify many features as well as the conductivity of the nanostructures of porous silicon being formed on the original silicon surface. 

Electrochemical noise studies have also been beneficial in lithium battery research. The lithium electrode sitting in the aprotic electrolyte is covered by a passivating film... 

During cathodic polarization, Li is deposited on the metal surface beneath the passivating film. The growing deposits may cause perforation of this film by Li crystals and the formation of a new active Li surface. This raises the heterogeneity of the Li surface and with it the intensity of electrochemical noise. 

MIC depends on the complex structure of corrosion products and passive films on metal surfaces as well as on the structure of the biofilm. Unfortunately, electrochemical methods have sometimes been used in complex electrolytes, such as microbiological culture media, where the characteristics and properties of passive films and MIC deposits are quite active and not fully understood. It must be kept in mind that microbial colonization of passive metals can drastically change their resistance to film breakdown by causing localized changes in the type, concentration, and thickness of anions, pH, oxygen gradients, and inhibitor levels at the metal surface during the course of a... 

Larramona, G. Gutierrez, C. (1989) The passive film on iron at pH 1-14. A potential-modulated reflectance study. J. Electrochem. 

Sato, N. Kudo, K. Nishimira, R. (1976) Depth analysis of the passive film on iron in neutral borate solution. J. Electrochem. Soc. 123 1419-1423... 

The electrochemical behavior of Cd electrode in 1 M NaOH solutions was studied in detail [320]. It was found that the passive film formed on Cd electrode was composed of two layers a barrier layer CdO and/or Cd(OH)2 covered with porous layers of Cd(OH)2. 

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