Enrichment in metallic nickel below the passive film on a stainless steel was quantified using the novel HIgh Kinetic Energy Photo-Electron Spectroscopy technique. Two surfaces were tested: one passivated in air and one polarized to the mid passive region in 0.5 M H2SO4. Primary beam energies ranging from 2 to 6 keV were used to determine the thickness of the nickel-enriched layer to 0.55 nm with a Ni content of 70%. (C) 2010 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/1.3509122] All rights reserved.