Copper Nanocrystallization in Anodic Oxide Films of Ti–Cu-Based Bulk Metallic Glass and Its Effect on the Corrosion Resistance and Cytocompatibility

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Viktoriia Shtefan - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden, National Technical University Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute (Author)
  • Nora Fernández Navas - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Thorgund Nemec - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Ivan Kaban - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Ute Hempel - , Institute of Physiological Chemistry (Author)
  • Andrea Voss - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Volker Hoffmann - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Darius Pohl - , Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed), Dresden Center for Nanoanalysis (DCN) (Author)
  • Annett Gebert - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)

Abstract

This study investigates anodic surface modification of the Ti47Cu38Zr7.5Fe2.5Sn2Si1Ag2 bulk metallic glass in a nontoxic potassium pyrophosphate electrolyte and its impact on corrosion behavior and cytocompatibility. The treatment forms bilayered oxide films (20–90 nm) via selective Cu dealloying and Ti/Zr oxide formation. Analyses by transmission electron microscopy and glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy reveal a dense inner amorphous layer and a porous outer layer containing metallic Cu nanocrystals, formed through Cu mobilization and reduction. Electrochemical testing demonstrates that anodization at 1.3 V vs. saturated mercury sulfate electrode significantly enhances corrosion resistance in chloride-containing phosphate-buffered saline and reduces Cu ion release by approximately 50% compared to the untreated state. Contact angle measurements confirm increased surface hydrophilicity due to the Ti/Zr oxide matrix. Biological evaluation shows that this optimized surface promotes human bone marrow stromal cell spreading and focal adhesion formation. It results in a 4.5-fold increase in cell proliferation and elevated activity of the osteogenic marker tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase, indicating enhanced osteogenic differentiation. These findings highlight that controlled anodization in a nontoxic pyrophosphate electrolyte can tailor surface oxide structure and composition, simultaneously improving corrosion resistance, cytocompatibility of Ti–Cu-based metallic glasses for advanced biomedical implants.

Details

Original languageEnglish
JournalAdvanced engineering materials
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 13 Apr 2026
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0002-4859-4325/work/213144927

Keywords

Keywords

  • anodic oxidation, copper, corrosion, cytocompatibility, metallic glass, pyrophosphate electrolyte, titanium