Plasma-induced crystallization of TiO$_2$ nanotubes

Benčina, Metka (author), Junkar, Ita (author), Zaplotnik, Rok (author), Valant, Matjaž (author), Iglič, Aleš (author), Mozetič, Miran (author)

Facile crystallization of titanium oxide (TiO$_2$) nanotubes (NTs), synthesized by electrochemical anodization, with low pressure non-thermal oxygen plasma is reported. The influence of plasma processing conditions on TiO$_2$ NTs crystal structure and morphology was examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For the first time we report the transition of amorphous TiO$_2$ NTs to anatase and rutile crystal structures upon treatment with highly reactive oxygen plasma. This crystallization process has a strong advantage over the conventional heat treatments as it enables rapid crystallization of the surface. Thus the crystalline structure of NTs is obtained in a few seconds of treatment and it does not disrupt the NTs’ morphology. Such a crystallization approach is especially suitable for medical applications in which stable crystallized nanotubular morphology is desired. The last part of the study thus deals with in vitro biological response of whole blood to the TiO$_2$ NTs. The results indicate that application of such surfaces for blood connecting devices is prospective, as practically no platelet adhesion or activation on crystallized TiO$_2$ NTs surfaces was observed.

• Language: English
• Keywords: TiO$_2$ nanotubes, crystallization, gaseous plasma, biological response
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FE - Faculty of Electrical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2019
• Number of pages: 13 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 12, iss. 4, art. 626
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-131926
• UDC: 620.3
• ISSN on article: 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma12040626
• COBISS.SI-ID: 32125479
• Publication date in RUL: 06.10.2021

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Materials
• Shortened title: Materials
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 1996-1944
• COBISS.SI-ID: 33588485

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 20.02.2019