Innovative Anodic Treatment to Obtain Stable Metallic Silver Micropatches on TiO Nanotubes: Structural, Electrochemical, and Photochemical Properties.

Electrochemical modification of the Ti surface to obtain TiO nanotubes (NT-Ti) has been proposed to enhance osseointegration in medical applications. However, susceptibility to microbial adhesion, linked to biomaterial-associated infections, and the high TiO band gap energy, which allows light absorption almost exclusively in the ultraviolet (UV) region, limit its applications. Modifying the TiO semiconductor with metals such as Ag has been suggested both for antimicrobial purposes and for absorbing light in the visible region. The formation of NT-Ti with Ag micropatches (Ag-NT-Ti) is pursued with the objective of enhancing the stability of the deposits and preventing cytotoxic levels of Ag cellular uptake. The innovative process proposed here involves immersing NT-Ti in a AgNO solution as the initial step. Diverging from previously reported electrochemical methods, this process incorporates anodization within the TiO oxide formation region instead of cathodic reduction generally employed by other researchers. The final step encompasses an annealing treatment. The treatments result in the Ag reduction and formation of stable and active micropatches of metallic Ag on the NT-Ti surface. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), wettability assessment, and electrochemical characterizations were conducted to evaluate the modified surfaces. The well-known properties of NT-Ti surfaces were enhanced, leading to improved photocatalytic activity across both visible and UV regions, significant stability against detachment, and controlled release of Ag for promising antimicrobial effects.