A Novel Interface Between Ti6Al4V and Organic Tissue Through a TiOxCy Organometallic Multilayer Coating

Titanium alloys are widely used in biomedical applications, especially in dental implants. In this work, individual TiOxCy thin films and a novel multilayer coating approach were investigated to prevent early implant failure through surface properties optimization. The research focuses on designing an innovative TiOxCy organometallic multilayer coating, varying from mineral (low C) to organic (high C), on Ti6Al4V substrates. These coatings were prepared using the PECVD technique, varying parameters as the reactive gas flow to modify the chemical composition, hydrophilicity, and layer thickness. Comprehensive characterization of the surface was conducted using XPS, and by contact angle to evaluate wettability. To further understand the chemical composition within each layer, XPS depth profiling analyses were performed. The results revealed that the newly designed multilayer coating with a decreasing reactive gas flow clearly exhibited a gradient in its composition. Near the upper substrate surface, the layers display a mineral-like, low-carbon structure, transitioning to an organic-like, high-carbon composition at the outermost surface.