RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article T1 Scanning microelectrochemical techniques a highly sensitive route to evaluate degradation reactions and protection methods with chemical selectivity A1 Souto, Ricardo Manuel A1 Izquierdo Pérez, Javier A1 Santana, Juan José A1 González, Sergio K1 Scanning microelectrochemistry K1 degradation K1 surface layers K1 chemical activity K1 organic coatings K1 oxide films AB This contribution provides a brief review of the applications of the Scanning Electrochemical Microscope (SECM) and the Scanning Vibrating Electrode Technique (SVET) in measuring, characterising and evaluating surface inhomogeneity and surface chemical activity in the case of heterogeneous materials exposed to aqueous environments. The SECM is a unique microelectrochemical technique that provides in situ topographic and electrochemical reactivity information about the surface evolution at the micrometer scale in aqueous solution, thus becoming a very powerful tool in elucidating the complex processes occurring in the early stages of surface films degradation and metal corrosion. On the other hand, the SVET uses a small vibrating probe allowing measurement of the local potential in solution taking advantage of a synchronous detection with a lock-in amplifier. In this way, ionic current related to degradation reactions on an investigated surface can be monitored in the electrolytic phase in contact with the sample. Selected practical examples of some applications of these techniques for the evaluation of degradation reactions and protection methods are presented YR 2013 FD 2013 LK http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/handle/915/19157 UL http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/handle/915/19157 LA en DS Repositorio institucional de la Universidad de La Laguna RD 02-may-2024