Formation of Nitrogen Doped Titanium Dioxide Surface Layer on NiTi Shape Memory Alloy

NiTi shape memory alloys are increasingly being used as bone and cardiac implants. The oxide layer of nanometric thickness spontaneously formed on their surface does not sufficiently protect from nickel transition into surrounding tissues, and its presence, even in a small amount, can be harmful to the human organism. In order to limit this disadvantageous phenomenon, there are several surface engineering techniques used, including oxidation methods. Due to the usually complex shapes of implants, one of the most prospective methods is low-temperature plasma oxidation. This article presents the role of cathode sputtering in the formation of a titanium dioxide surface layer, specifically rutile. The surface of the NiTi shape memory alloy was modified using low-temperature glow discharge plasma oxidation processes, which were carried out in two variants: oxidation using an argon + oxygen (80% vol.) reactive atmosphere and the less chemically active argon + air (80% vol.), but with a preliminary cathode sputtering process in the Ar + N(2) (1:1) plasma. This paper presents the structure (STEM), chemical composition (EDS, SIMS), surface topography (optical profilometer, Atomic Force Microscopy—AFM) and antibacterial properties of nanocrystalline TiO(2) diffusive surface layers. It is shown that prior cathodic sputtering in argon-nitrogen plasma almost doubled the thickness of the produced nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide layers despite using air instead of oxygen. The (TiO(x)N(y))(2) diffusive surface layer showed a high level of resistance to E. coli colonization in comparison with NiTi, which indicates the possibility of using this surface layer in the modification of NiTi implants’ properties.