Regensburg 2010 – scientific programme

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O: Fachverband Oberflächenphysik

O 64: Solid/liquid interfaces I (focussed session)

O 64.1: Invited Talk

Thursday, March 25, 2010, 10:30–11:00, H33

Metal/Electrolyte interfaces under atmospheric corrosion conditions — •Michael Rohwerder — Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung, Max-Planck-Str.1, D-40237 Düsseldorf, Germany

Atmospheric corrosion conditions are characterized by ultra-thin electrolyte layers covering the metal surface. As will be shown, although in not too diluted electrolytes the electrochemical double layer extends only about a nanometre from the metal surface, the corrosion behaviour of metals covered by an electrolyte layer of a few hundred nanometres is different from the one of an immersed metal. This can not easily be studied with standard electrochemical set-ups. An indispensable method for electrochemical investigations in ultra-thin electrolyte layers is the Kelvin probe. Indeed, the Kelvin probe technique can be considered as a natural reference electrode that is applicable to immersed electrodes, metals covered by ultra-thin electrolyte layers and even "dry" surfaces alike. It will also be shown that the potentials measured on "dry" surfaces are of real physical importance as they have a direct impact on corrosion mechanisms.