The effect of cerium oxides film, formed electrochemically on OC404 stainless steel (SS), upon the corrosion behavior of steel in 0.1N H2SO4 was investigated. The modification of the steel surface by deposition of cerium oxides films was found to improve the steel corrosion resistance. A linear dependence between the stationary corrosion potential of the cerium oxides/SS system and the cerium concentration in the oxide film was established. The shift of the corrosion potential in the positive direction was found to depend on the proceeding of a depolarizing cathode reaction of CeO2 reduction (instead of the hydrogen depolarizing reaction) occurring on the cathodic zones, formed by this oxide. On the basis of XPS analyses of the samples, subjected to real corrosion under the conditions of self-dissolution, a pronounced drop of the surface concentration of CeO2 was established. This is a proof of the occurrence of an effective cathode process of CeO2 reduction to Ce2O3, which was then dissolved in H2SO4. Data were obtained (XPS) on the composition and structure of the surface film (SEM) after electrodeposition of cerium oxides and after corrosion in the sulfuric acid medium under consideration for time intervals ranging from 50 up to 1000 h. The ICP-AES studies acquired data on the quantity of dissolved elements, forming the passive layer. After exposure to the corrosive medium, the deposited layer showed enrichment in oxides of chromium and aluminium. The passive film on stainless steel, modified in this way, proved to be more stable to the effect of aggressive sulfuric acid medium, compared to the case of natural passive film. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.