Antipathogenic electroless copper–titania composite coatings: tailoring the plating process toward better corrosion resistance

Abstract Copper coatings production increases due to the society awareness of their great anti-pathogenic properties. However, such coatings must show a set of requirements among which the corrosion resistance plays a key role. This study focused on determining the corrosion resistance of newly designed copper-titania composite coatings enriched with TiO 2 nanoparticles. The series of Cu-TiO 2 coatings have been produced using electroless plating process and different NiSO 4 ·7H 2 O concentration in the bath solution. Composite and copper coatings were examined by Scanning Electron Microscopy and tested using potentiodynamic measurements and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy. Scanning Electron Microscopy observations revealed that both Cu and Cu-TiO 2 coatings exhibit globular morphology without porosity. Electron microscopy analyses confirmed that titania nanoparticles has been incorporated into the copper matrix of composite coatings and also that the grain size of copper coatings and composite, produced under the same plating conditions, is identical. X-ray diffraction showed the highest nickel intensity at the lowest NiSO 4 concentration, indicating its impact on coating thickness. Corrosion studies confirmed that copper-titania coatings also may offer the corrosion protection.