The effects of post-treatment applied on Trivalent Chromium Protection (TCP) coatings deposited on aluminum alloy 2024-T3 was studied by electrochemical and surface analytical techniques: X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). The aim of the post-treatment was to improve the corrosion resistance of the TCP coating. To understand the influence of the post-treatment, using a bath containing H 2 O 2 and a lanthanum salt as an inhibitor, our approach was to study the effect of these two components separately. It was found that the improved corrosion protection provided by the post-treated TCP was related to a synergetic effect of the two components. XPS and ToF-SIMS analyses showed that (i) the thickness of the TCP coating is not modified by the post-treatment, (ii) lanthanum is present on the surface and in the bulk of the TCP and (iii) is found in very small amount only on the extreme surface. The total concentration of Cr(VI) (oxide/hydroxide) was estimated to be below 0.1 wt% in the post-treated TCP layer. It was concluded that lanthanum plays a significant role in improving the coating density and homogeneity and has a beneficial effect on the TCP coating cracking as observed by Scanning Electron Aluminum alloys are used for aerospace applications for their low weight and good mechanical properties.1-3 To improve the corrosion properties of aluminum alloys and to provide good paint adhesion, the first layer of coating applied on the aluminum alloy surface used to be a chromate conversion coating (CCC).4-6 However, hexavalent chromium used in the CCC coatings is highly toxic, 4,7 its use is very much restricted in Europe 8 and the United States 9 and will be forbidden by 2024 by the European Community with respect to the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACh).8 Therefore, new conversion coatings have been developed, and one of the most promising solutions is the Trivalent Chromium Protection coating called also as the Trivalent Chrome Process (TCP).10-14 TCP conversion coatings are formed by immersion in a solution containing Zr 4+ , Cr 3+ and F − ions, at a pH between 3.8 and 4.0. As it has already been widely discussed, the coating formation mechanism occurs by multiple chemical steps. 10,11,13,[15][16][17] The initial step involves dissolution of the aluminum oxide layer by fluorides. The removal of the oxide layer exposes the metal surface where cathodic reactions take place. Oxygen reduction reaction, and possibly hydrogen discharge, which counterbalance aluminum oxidation, consume protons and causes a pH increase at the interface between the metallic substrate and the solution, as measured by Li et al. 15 The high pH favors the precipitation of ions present in the solution, forming a hydrated layer of zirconium and chromium oxide. The thickness of the TCP layer is usually of the order of 100 nm, depending on the nature of the aluminum alloy, the concentration of the solution and the immersion time.11,12,18 ...