A novel two-step electrochemical method for the complete filling of Cu2O into TiO2 nanotube arrays as an anti-fouling surface for titanium

Abstract

Titanium, often referred as the “metal of the ocean”, shows substantial promise for marine engineering applications. However, its widespread use remains constrained by the persistent challenge of biofouling in the marine environment, underscoring the critical need for effective anti-fouling strategies tailored for titanium.

This paper develops a novel anti-fouling titanium surface, prepared through a straightforward two-step electrochemical method that completely fills the anti-fouling agent Cu₂O into TiO₂ nanotube arrays on the titanium surface. The method achieves the complete filling of Cu₂O into TiO₂ nanotube arrays by selectively enhancing the bottom conductivity of TiO₂ nanotube arrays and the optimized pulse deposition parameters. Anti-fouling performance evaluations demonstrate that this novel anti-fouling titanium surface exhibits excellent anti-adhesion properties against marine fouling organisms, including bacteria, diatoms, and barnacles. Furthermore, it maintains significant anti-fouling efficacy for nearly one month in the marine environment. The design and fabrication process of this novel anti-fouling titanium surface proposed in this paper provides a promising strategy for the application of titanium in the marine environment.