Producing micro-droplet of dilute sulphuric acid on pure iron surface and observing its corrosion behaviour by atomic force microscopy

A simple method was presented to produce a micro-droplet of sulphuric acid on a pre-selected micro-zone on a pure iron surface with the tip of an AFM cantilever. The three-dimensional shape of the droplet was imaged with the AC non-contact mode of the AFM, and the liquid/solid interface was observed in situ during corrosion using the contact mode. The substrate surface beneath the droplet was lowered by approximately 19 nm after 3.6 ks of adhesion. This method has important implications for experimental studies of micro-zone corrosion or lubrication.