An SECM observation of dissolution distribution of ferrous or ferric ion from a polycrystalline iron electrode

The dissolution of iron as ferrous or ferric ion from a polycrystalline iron electrode during anodic polarization in pH 2.3 sulfate solution was evaluated by using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). A graphite reinforcement carbon (GRC) microelectrode was employed as a probe electrode of SECM to detect ferrous or ferric ions dissolved from the iron electrode in the active-dissolution, passive or trans-passive region. The probe current above the iron electrode surface subjected to active-dissolution showed the dissolution distribution of ferrous ion, depending on the substrate grains. It was found that the active-dissolution rate of iron as ferrous ions from the grain on which the thicker film was formed in the passive region, was lower than that from the grain on which the thinner film was formed in the passive region. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.