passivate

American  

[pas-uh-veyt] / ˈpæs əˌveɪt /

verb (used with object)

Metallurgy.

passivated, passivating

1. to treat (a metal) to render the surface less reactive chemically.

---

passivate British  

/ ˈpæsɪˌveɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to render (a metal) less susceptible to corrosion by coating the surface with a substance, such as an oxide

---

Other Word Forms

• passivation noun

Etymology

Origin of passivate

First recorded in 1910–15; passive + -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Under a positive voltage, they found that nitrate ions "passivate" the catalyst by attaching to its surface, which prevents copper oxide from converting to metallic copper and instead results in the formation of nitrite ions.

From Science Daily • Nov. 22, 2025

The new study looks at a very small but key detail: how to "passivate" the material's surface, changing its properties in such a way that the perovskite no longer degrades so rapidly or loses efficiency.

From Science Daily • Feb. 29, 2024

The new study "addressed the ability to passivate those interfaces and elucidate the physics and science behind why this passivation works as well as it does," Bulovic says.

From Science Daily • Feb. 29, 2024

Long-chain organic ligands, such as oleic acid, are used in the synthesis of PbSe QDs to control growth kinetics, allow for stable colloidal dispersions, and passivate surface states through their metal-ligand chemistry.

From Science Magazine • Dec. 15, 2011