The effect of ultraviolet (UV) illumination on the NaCl-induced atmospheric corrosion of pure zinc was investigated in this work. UV illumination affects the atmospheric corrosion morphology and corrosion rate of zinc. The NaCl-induced atmospheric corrosion rate of zinc increases significantly under UV illumination, which can be attributed to the photovoltaic effect of the corrosion products with semiconductor properties. The photoinduced electrons and holes, which are generated by the corrosion products with semiconductor properties under UV illumination, participate in the corrosion reactions and thus affect the atmospheric corrosion rate of zinc. (C) 2014 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.