Purpose The present study aims to develop a high-performance film on titanium with both anticorrosion and antifouling properties by using the complex anion Cu(P2O7)26- as a novel copper source. Design/methodology/approach A Cu-incorporated ceramic film was fabricated on a pure titanium substrate via a single-step plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) process in an alkaline electrolyte enriched with K6Cu(P2O7)2. Findings The addition of Cu(P2O7)26- into the electrolyte enables the formation of a Cu-incorporated TiO2 film. The resulting film exhibits a more compact microstructure compared to the Cu-free counterpart, demonstrating significantly enhanced antifouling efficacy with comparable corrosion resistance. Originality/value The present work pioneers the use of Cu(P2O7)26− as a novel and effective Cu source for one-step fabrication of antifouling PEO films on titanium, presenting a promising and industrially viable strategy for protecting marine pipeline systems.
Zhu et al. (Wed,) studied this question.