Photoelectrochemical and Raman imaging studies of chemical and mechanical properties of thermally grown titanium oxide scales

摘要

The present work focuses on thin TiO_2 scales (up to 3 mum). The use of both micro-photoelec-trochemistry (MPEC) and Raman imaging aims to get chemical and mechanical information at a micron scale. In particular, the MPEC technique allows images of the history of strain and adhesion levels of the oxide/metal interface to be realised. A set of photocurrent images recorded at different applied potentials allows different images to be constructed, Structural Quality Image (SQI) and Interface Cohesion Image (ICI). In addition, Raman spectroscopy images the chemical nature of the scale, topography of the surface and local stress level in the scale. Combining both techniques is a powerful tool in elucidating the mechanisms of thermal oxidation.