High-Performance Graphene Coating on Titanium Bipolar Plates in Fuel Cells via Cathodic Electrophoretic Deposition

In this article, we proposed a facile method to electrophoretically deposit a highly conductive and corrosion-resistant graphene layer on metal bipolar plates (BPs) while avoiding the oxidation of the metal substrate during the electrophoretic deposition (EPD). p-Phenylenediamine (PPD) was first grafted onto negatively charged graphene oxide (GO) to obtain modified graphene oxide (MGO) while bearing positive charges. Then, MGO dispersed in ethanol was coated on titanium plates via cathodic EPD under a constant voltage, followed by reducing the deposited MGO with H2 at 400 °C, gaining a titanium plate coated with reduced MGO (RMGO@Ti). Under the simulated environment of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), RMGO@Ti presents a corrosion current of < 10−6 A·cm−2, approximately two orders of magnitude lower than that of bare titanium. Furthermore, the interfacial contact resistance (ICR) of RMGO@Ti is as low as 4 mΩ·cm2, which is about one-thirtieth that of bare titanium. Therefore, RMGO@Ti appears very promising for use as BP in PEMFCs.

Comparison of Corrosion Behaviors of Bare Ti and TiO2

In this study, titanium (Ti) surface was anodized by applying 60 voltages for two hours to form titanium dioxide (TiO2) with anodization method. After anodization procedure, comparison of corrosion behaviors of the bare titanium and TiO2 coated titanium was examined in 1 M KOH solution by using electrochemical methods such as anodic and cathodic current-potential curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) were used to characterize bare Ti and anodically formed TiO2 surfaces. According to obtained results, Ti surface was smooth and compact. However, surface structure of TiO2 coated titanium was porous and nanotubes formed on the surface. This porous structure which has protective layer contributed to increase the corrosion resistance. Higher polarization resistance was obtained on porous TiO2 than that of bare titanium. Besides, this protective layer bore well against the alkaline corrosion during long-term immersion.

Electrodeposition of MgO/Calcium Phosphate Composite Coatings on Titanium for Biomedical Applications

This work elucidated corrosion resistance of the electrodeposited MgO/calcium phosphate (Ca-P/MgO) films on titanium (Ti). The microstructure, phase composition, and corrosion resistance of the films were studied. Results revealed that The Ca-P/MgO composite coatings were rough and inhomogeneous, the upper layer was floral-like crystals or flakes agglomerates morphology, and the lower layer was needle-like crystals which were mutually cross linked. The coating was very dense, and the content of Mg was about 0.3 wt%. Potentiodynamic polarization test manifested that the Ca-P/MgO-coated surface exhibited superior corrosion resistance than the bare titanium.

Codepositon of Dopamine/Calcium on Titanium to Enhancing Implant Integration

Calcium plays an important role in various stages of bone repair. Surface calcium modification is a common method to improve the biocompatibility of titanium implant. In this work, anovel facile codeposition dopamine/calcium on titanium alloy method for orthopedics applications was developed. SEM-EDS results showed calcium microspheres uniformly deposited on titanium surface with dopamine. Water contact angle showed the dopamine/calcium modification layer improved the bare titanium surface hydrophobic property. And the dopamine/calcium coating enhanced the cell proliferation by MTT test. The ALP gene expression also showed the dopamine/calcium coating may enhance the cell early differentiation. Such facile method has great potential in titanium applications.

Improvement of Hydroxyapatite Deposition on Titanium Dental Implant Using ArF Laser Ablation: Effect on Osteoblast Biocompatibility In Vitro

To develop a better surface conformation of titanium dental implants, we examined the in vitro biocompatibility of a thin natural apatite (NA) film deposited by laser ablation. Thin (2000-Å) hydroxyapatite (HA) and NA films were deposited on titanium discs using an ArF excimer laser operating at a repletion rate of 10 Hz and annealed by heating at 360°C for 1 h. Energy dispersive analysis of the NA film revealed peaks of Na and Mg in addition Ca and P. X-ray diffraction showed that crystalline HA was present in the HA and NA films. Primary mouse osteoblast grew faster and had higher alkaline phosphatase activity when grown in NA films than on HA films or a bare titanium surface. In addition, osteocalsin production by these cells was higher on HA and NA than bare titanium, but there was no significant difference between cells grown on HA and NA. Thus surface modification with NA film may contribute to successful osteoblast function and differentiation at titanium interface.