| Abstract: | Air oxidation of Fe was compared with and without a pre‐exposure to water vapour. Angle‐resolved x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ARXPS) and QUASES? were used to determine the thickness of the oxide layer formed and its composition. The extent of oxidation was found to be much less if the surface was pre‐exposed to water rather than air alone. Studies performed using ARXPS were able to show that the hydroxyl‐containing layer located at the surface after Fe was exposed to water vapour was located below the surface after exposure to air. This observation suggested that the oxidation of Fe in air is mediated by cation diffusion. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
