TiO2 thin Films for Biofouling Applications

This work presents a study of TiO2 thin films prepared by sputtering, for using as protection for biofouling action on marine structures. Titanium oxide thin films were prepared with different amount of oxygen on the surface of regular 1020 steel, a structural material for marine technology. The cristalline structure analysis evidenced the formation of anatase and rutile phases, as well as an amorphous phase of titanium oxide. Roughness measurements shown that the surface finish can contribute to the fixation of microorganisms. The crystalline TiO2 thin films was evaluated as a potential biofouling protective coating. Contact angle measurements revealed that under UV-C light, the material evidenced a changing in wettability from hydrophobic to hydrophilic behavior, what is associated to the activation of photocatalytic reactions that is nocive for living beings on its surface. The effect of marine ambient on sample corroborates this conclusion, where after 6 months of exposure it was not sufficient for growing of biofouling on surface.本研究针对以溅射法（sputtering）制备的二氧化钛（TiO₂）薄膜展开研究，旨在将其用作海洋构筑物防生物附着（biofouling）的防护涂层。研究人员在船舶工程常用结构材料1020普通碳钢（1020 steel）表面制备了不同氧含量的二氧化钛薄膜。晶体结构分析结果显示，薄膜中形成了锐钛矿相（anatase）、金红石相（rutile）以及二氧化钛非晶相。粗糙度测量结果表明，表面光洁度会影响微生物的附着固定。本研究将该结晶态二氧化钛薄膜作为潜在防生物附着防护涂层开展性能评估。接触角测量结果显示，在UV-C（深紫外）光照条件下，该材料的润湿性由疏水态转变为亲水态，这一现象与其表面光催化反应的激活相关，而该光催化反应对附着于其表面的生物具有杀伤作用。海洋环境对试样的作用验证了这一结论：经过6个月的野外暴露后，试样表面未出现明显的生物附着生长现象。