Synchrotron X-Ray Techniques for In Situ or Microscopic Study of Passive Films on Industrial Alloys: A Mini Review
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The spontaneous formation and stability of a protective passive film on a metal surface are crucial for the metal material’s corrosion resistance during its service life. Passive films have been extensively studied, and our understanding of passive films has been significantly improved with the development of advanced analytical techniques. Modern synchrotron X-ray sources offer unprecedented possibilities for detailed analyses of passive films and for in situ and operando studies of passive films in both gaseous/aqueous environments, as well as in electrochemical environments. This mini review presents a short summary of recent studies on passive films, mainly focusing on stainless steels and nickel-base alloys, which utilize state-of-the-art synchrotron X-ray techniques, particularly X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), often in combination with other synchrotron techniques such as X-ray adsorption, diffraction, reflectivity, and fluorescence. These reports demonstrate that synchrotron-based techniques greatly improve probing sensitivity and spatial resolution, enabling in situ and operando studies of passive films at solid–liquid interfaces. These studies reveal changes in the passive film and underlying alloy layer, highlighting the important role of hydroxides, as well as the inhomogeneity in passive films associated with the complex microstructures in advanced industrial alloys.
DOI: 10.3390/cmd6040056
Author: Jinshan Pan
Institution: KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Metals and Alloys
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,207
Awards: In-situ High Energy X-ray Diffraction from Electrochemical Interfaces (HEXCHEM), In situ surface sensitive X-Ray Absorption Near Edge Spectroscopy as a new tool for corrosion studies of passive films in steels and recycled aluminum alloys, MAX IV operations – Formas, G594270511, Understanding and Functionalization of Nano Porous Anodic Oxides, Analysis of passive films of advanced tooling alloys by synchrotron X-ray photoelectron techniques, MAX IV operations 2019-2021, Understanding passivity and breakdown of advanced alloys through combined local electrochemical probing and synchrotron-based analyses, Holistisk grundläggande förståelse av väte-mikrostrukturinteraktioner i duplex rostfritt stål för att bekämpa väteförstöring, Stabilitet av passiv film på avancerad Ni-baslegering
OpenAlex ID: W4415908522