Photoinduced properties of anodized Ti alloys for biomaterial applications

The photocatalytic properties of anodic oxides on a newly developed TiNbSn and commonly used Ti6Al4V alloys as biomaterials were investigated. The alloys were anodized in an electrolyte of sodium tartrate acid with H(2)O(2) at a high voltage and the mechanism of the photocatalytic and antiviral activities was studied. The anodized TiNbSn and Ti6Al4V exhibited highly crystallized rutile TiO(2) and poorly crystallized anatase TiO(2), respectively. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis revealed the presence of oxides of the alloying elements in addition to TiO(2). The anodized TiNbSn exhibited higher activities than Ti6Al4V, and electron spin resonance spectra indicated that the number of hydroxyl radicals (⋅OH) generated from the anodized TiNbSn was higher than that from the anodized Ti6Al4V. The results can be explained by two possible mechanisms: the higher crystallinity of TiO(2) on TiNbSn than that on the Ti6Al4V reduces the number of charge recombination sites and generates abundant ⋅OH; charge separation in the anodic oxide on TiNbSn due to the electronic band structure between TiO(2) and the oxides of alloying elements enhances photo activities. The excellent photoinduced characteristics of the anodized TiNbSn are expected to contribute to the safe and reliable implant treatment.