A new understanding on the electrochemical coloration mechanism of titanium surface

Electrochemical coloration technology has been extensively studied for many years due to its effectiveness in enhancing the aesthetics, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility of Ti materials. However, the underlying coloration mechanism has not been systematically investigated and verified. Our...

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Main Authors: Tengfei Yu, Yanpeng Xue, Man Zheng, Benli Luan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:Journal of Materials Research and Technology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425004636
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author Tengfei Yu
Yanpeng Xue
Man Zheng
Benli Luan
author_facet Tengfei Yu
Yanpeng Xue
Man Zheng
Benli Luan
author_sort Tengfei Yu
collection DOAJ
description Electrochemical coloration technology has been extensively studied for many years due to its effectiveness in enhancing the aesthetics, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility of Ti materials. However, the underlying coloration mechanism has not been systematically investigated and verified. Our new finding based on spectrophotometer characterization reveals that the color of oxide film is determined by the diffuse reflection light. The coloration mechanism, attributed to the selective absorption of visible light by the TiOx semiconductor film, is therefore proposed and confirmed. This absorption originates from electron transitions from the impurity levels to the conduction band. Oxide films of various colors exhibit particular absorption peaks, along with specific flat band potentials and charge carrier densities. The energy differences between the conduction band minimum and the Fermi level (EC-EF) of oxide films with orange, red, blue, and green colors are 1.77 eV, 1.50 eV, 1.25 eV, and 0.76 eV, respectively, corresponding to the redshift of their visible light absorption peaks. This new discovery provides a new understanding of Ti coloration mechanism and promotes the development of related processes and potential applications.
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institution OA Journals
issn 2238-7854
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Journal of Materials Research and Technology
spelling doaj-art-600d2eaddb5c454ea685393b047d89782025-08-20T02:11:09ZengElsevierJournal of Materials Research and Technology2238-78542025-03-01355770578110.1016/j.jmrt.2025.02.216A new understanding on the electrochemical coloration mechanism of titanium surfaceTengfei Yu0Yanpeng Xue1Man Zheng2Benli Luan3National Center for Materials Service Safety, University of Science and Technology Beijing, 100083, Beijing, PR ChinaNational Center for Materials Service Safety, University of Science and Technology Beijing, 100083, Beijing, PR China; Corresponding author.National Center for Materials Service Safety, University of Science and Technology Beijing, 100083, Beijing, PR ChinaEastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315200, PR China; Department of Chemistry, Western University, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada; Corresponding author. Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315200, PR China.Electrochemical coloration technology has been extensively studied for many years due to its effectiveness in enhancing the aesthetics, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility of Ti materials. However, the underlying coloration mechanism has not been systematically investigated and verified. Our new finding based on spectrophotometer characterization reveals that the color of oxide film is determined by the diffuse reflection light. The coloration mechanism, attributed to the selective absorption of visible light by the TiOx semiconductor film, is therefore proposed and confirmed. This absorption originates from electron transitions from the impurity levels to the conduction band. Oxide films of various colors exhibit particular absorption peaks, along with specific flat band potentials and charge carrier densities. The energy differences between the conduction band minimum and the Fermi level (EC-EF) of oxide films with orange, red, blue, and green colors are 1.77 eV, 1.50 eV, 1.25 eV, and 0.76 eV, respectively, corresponding to the redshift of their visible light absorption peaks. This new discovery provides a new understanding of Ti coloration mechanism and promotes the development of related processes and potential applications.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425004636TitaniumAC polarizationSurface modificationOxide filmColoration mechanismSemiconductor
spellingShingle Tengfei Yu
Yanpeng Xue
Man Zheng
Benli Luan
A new understanding on the electrochemical coloration mechanism of titanium surface
Journal of Materials Research and Technology
Titanium
AC polarization
Surface modification
Oxide film
Coloration mechanism
Semiconductor
title A new understanding on the electrochemical coloration mechanism of titanium surface
title_full A new understanding on the electrochemical coloration mechanism of titanium surface
title_fullStr A new understanding on the electrochemical coloration mechanism of titanium surface
title_full_unstemmed A new understanding on the electrochemical coloration mechanism of titanium surface
title_short A new understanding on the electrochemical coloration mechanism of titanium surface
title_sort new understanding on the electrochemical coloration mechanism of titanium surface
topic Titanium
AC polarization
Surface modification
Oxide film
Coloration mechanism
Semiconductor
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425004636
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