In situ measurement of corrosion on the nanoscale

Measurement of the electrochemical properties phase-by-phase on the nanoscale in real (commercial) alloys is critical to understanding the microstructure-corrosion relationship and subsequently controlling it. This work presents a novel AFM based in situ corrosion probing methodology (for the first time) that is capable of resolving the electrochemical activity (impedance response) into the nanometer range; the method subsequently having major ramifications in the study of aluminium alloy corrosion, the interpretation of corrosion propagation, and the subsequent development of corrosion resistant aluminium alloys.