In spite of considerable efforts over the years to understand and combat materials degradation via corrosion processes, many challenges still remain both in the theoretical understanding of the phenomena and in seeking pratical solutions to the perennial problem. Progress has been slow due to the complexity of the processes and the systems involved. Fortunately, in recent years there has been a renaissance in the development of new electrochemical and optical techniques, as well as advances in instrumentation, which have greatly aided our quest to gain insight into the complex mechanisms involved in metallic corrosion and passivation. Numerous scientific meetings, symposia, and workshops have been held allover the world which attest to the frenzy of activities in corrosion science and technology. However, most of these conferences have dealt mainly with recent research results. There appeared to be a need to assess and disseminate our present state of knowledge in the field as regards measurement techniques, theory, and instrumentation. The present NATO Advanced Study Institute was therefore held in Viana do Castelo, Portugal from July 9 to 21, 1989. The Institute consisted of a series of tutorial lectures, poster sessions, and round-table discussions interspersed evenly over the two-week period. It was attended by 75 participants from several countries representing industry, government and university laboratories.

Synchrotron Techniques in Interfacial Chemistry covers the structure of the electrode--solution interface and surface films, theory of X-ray scattering at surfaces and interfaces, synchrotron radiation instrumentation, surface X-ray diffraction, X-ray reflectivity, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (EXAFS and XANES), standing wave techniques, and IR spectroscopy. The use of each technique in the study of electrochemical problems is illustrated.

In spite of considerable efforts over the years to understand and combat materials degradation via corrosion processes, many challenges still remain both in the theoretical understanding of the phenomena and in seeking pratical solutions to the perennial problem. Progress has been slow due to the complexity of the processes and the systems involved. Fortunately, in recent years there has been a renaissance in the development of new electrochemical and optical techniques, as well as advances in instrumentation, which have greatly aided our quest to gain insight into the complex mechanisms involved in metallic corrosion and passivation. Numerous scientific meetings, symposia, and workshops have been held allover the world which attest to the frenzy of activities in corrosion science and technology. However, most of these conferences have dealt mainly with recent research results. There appeared to be a need to assess and disseminate our present state of knowledge in the field as regards measurement techniques, theory, and instrumentation. The present NATO Advanced Study Institute was therefore held in Viana do Castelo, Portugal from July 9 to 21, 1989. The Institute consisted of a series of tutorial lectures, poster sessions, and round-table discussions interspersed evenly over the two-week period. It was attended by 75 participants from several countries representing industry, government and university laboratories.

Electrochemistry is one of the oldest branches of Physical Chemistry. Having its foundations in the work of Faraday, Arrhenius and others, it evolved from the study of transport in electrolyte solutions to that of electrode kinetics. Kinetic methods are inherently unable to identify unequivocally the species involved in a reaction. Therefore, beginning in the 70s many spectroscopic and diffraction techniques were applied to the study of the electrode-electrolyte interface, in order to identify intermediary reaction species, and even the spatial arrangement of atoms or molecules at the interface. In order to disseminate these techniques, a NATO Advanced Sutdy Institute was held at Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) from July 2 to 15, 1988. The Institute consisted of tutorial type lecutures, poster sessions, and round-table discussions. It was attended by over 65 participants from NATO-member countries, and others from Argentina and Japan. In the present volume most of the lectures presented at the Institute have been collected. At least one chapter is devoted to each technique. Emphasis has been made on case studies, rather than theory, which can be found in textbooks and other publications. Our purpose in this book is to help the electrochemists uninitiated in spectroscopic methods to decide which techniques would be suitable for application to their particular problems. We thank all the lecturers who contributed to this volume, and even those UHPs (Unrepentant Habitual Procrastinators) who did not in spite of our urgings to do so.

Synchrotron Techniques in Interfacial Chemistry covers the structure of the electrode--solution interface and surface films, theory of X-ray scattering at surfaces and interfaces, synchrotron radiation instrumentation, surface X-ray diffraction, X-ray reflectivity, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (EXAFS and XANES), standing wave techniques, and IR spectroscopy. The use of each technique in the study of electrochemical problems is illustrated.