We studied two novel electrochemical treatments of CuInS2 solar-cell absorber films, introduced to remove the deleterious segregated CuS phase. Their influence on surface topography, chemistry and electronic properties was investigated using in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) and photoclectron spectroscopy, performed in part at the U49/2 undulator beam line at BESSY II. The results are examined in order to develop an improved understanding of the chemical-electrochemical surface transformation processes.