Photoelectrochemical study of passive films on sensitized stainless steel

Passive films formed on sensitized stainless steel in sulfuric acid solutions have been studied using photelectrochemical techniques. The results of the photocurrent measurement indicated that the passive films on foils of sensitized stainless steel 1Cr18Ni9Ti were characterized with n-type or p-type semiconductor in different potential regions. The difference in the photoelectrochemical behavior can be interpreted assuming that the passive film is an iron-chromium oxide solid solution associated with various hydration degrees of the Cr(III) oxides at various potentials.