Nanocrystallized SrHA/SrHA-SrTiO(3)/SrTiO(3)-TiO(2) multilayer coatings formed by micro-arc oxidation for photocatalytic application.

Novel photocatalytic coatings containing strontium hydroxyapatite (SrHA), strontium titanate (SrTiO(3)), and TiO(2) were formed by micro-arc oxidation (MAO) in an aqueous electrolyte containing strontium acetate and β-glycerophosphate disodium at 530 V for 0.1-5 min. The structure evolution of the coatings was investigated as a function of processing time, and the photocatalytic activity of the coatings was evaluated by measuring the decomposition rate of methyl orange under ultraviolet irradiation. During the MAO processing of the coatings, it was observed that some granules appeared in the electrolyte adjacent to the anode and they increased in amount as the processing time was prolonged. The obtained results show that the granules are amorphous and poorly crystallized SrHA with negative charges. The coating prepared for 5 min presents a microporous structure of SrHA/SrHA-SrTiO(3)/SrTiO(3)-TiO(2) multilayers, in which the SrHA outermost layer and the SrHA-SrTiO(3) intermediate layer are nanocrystallized. It is suggested that formation of the granules, electro-migration of the granules onto the pre-formed layer, and crystallization of the adhered granules are possible mechanisms for the formation of a SrHA/SrHA-SrTiO(3)/SrTiO(3)-TiO(2) multilayer coating. This coating shows much higher photocatalytic decomposition efficiency relative to the MAO-formed TiO(2) coating, and is expected to have an important photocatalytic application.