TiO2 nanostructured surfaces for biomedical applications developed by electrochemical anodization

Present research demonstrates the formation of self-ordered nanostructured oxide layer on the surface of two phase Ti6Al4V alloy by using electrochemical anodization in H3PO4/HF electrolytes. Our results show that the ordered oxide nanotubes grow on large areas on the samples surface, on both phases of (alpha+beta) Ti6Al4V titanium alloy. We developed nanotubes of 70 nm (internal diameter) using 0.3 wt% HF and of 80 nm using 0.5 wt% HF additions to 1M H3PO4, at an anodization potential of 20 V, and an anodization time of 2 hours. We show that anodization potential has a strong influence on nanostructures morphology. Our results show that nanotubes' internal diameter is similar to 30 nm at 10 V potential, similar to 40 nm at 15 V potential, and similar to 70-80 nm at 20 V potential in anodization process performed in 1M H3PO4 + 0.5 wt% HF, 2 hours. The thickness of the developed nanostructured oxide layer is in 200-250 nm range.