Characterization and corrosion studies of ceria thin film based on fluorinated AZ91D magnesium alloy

The CeO₂ thin film was prepared via sol-gel method on fluorinated AZ91D magnesium alloy surfaces. The surface morphology, composition and the corrosion resistance of the film were investigated in details using scanning electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy as well as potentiodynamic polarization tests. It was found that small amount of MgO and MgF₂ were encapsulated in CeO₂ thin film. The electrochemical measurement results demonstrated that the CeO₂ thin film on fluorinated AZ91D magnesium alloy could improve the corrosion resistance approximately by two orders of magnitude compared with that of the bare substrate.