AbstractThe surface topography and potential changes of the 2205 duplex stainless steel due to tensile deformation were investigated by the in situ scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy. The slip bands generated by tensile deformation could decrease the surface potential. The surface roughness and the work function increased with deformation in the elastic region and reached the maximum values at the yield point. In the plastic deformation stage, the surface roughness continued to increase, while the work function decreased and stabilized. The surface roughness is the major factor affecting the work function during elastic deformation, while dislocations and slip bands play the key role during plastic deformation.