Electrophoretic deposition of tungsten carbide and boron carbide on cemented steel and investigation of their mechanical and electrochemical behavior

Synergistic effect of zirconia and zinc oxide incorporation in polyether ether ketone based coating deposited via electrophoretic deposition for orthopedic implants

ABSTRACT Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites exhibit high specific strength and stiffness, making them suitable for applications such as helicopter rotor blades, high‐speed vehicles, missile components and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These applications may present situations of intense sand erosion and hence the erosion resistance of CFRPs needs to be enhanced, and the use of a strong nano‐filler can help achieve this. In the current study, the carbon fiber‐epoxy interface was modified with variable carboxyl functionalize graphene (G‐COOH) content (0.15, 0.53, 0.8, and 1.1 wt. % relative to the weight of the carbon fiber fabric) using an effective electrophoretic deposition technique and the products deposited were confirmed using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The G‐COOH‐deposited fabrics were used for composite fabrication through the vacuum‐assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) technique. All the G‐COOH‐deposited carbon fiber composites showed lower erosive wear rate at 30°, 60° and 90° angles compared to the pristine carbon fiber (PCF) composite. The 0.15 wt. % G‐COOH‐deposited carbon fiber composite exhibited the highest erosion resistance at 30° (28%) and 60° (13%) angles of impingement. In contrast, the 1.1 wt. % G‐COOH‐deposited carbon fiber composite showed the highest erosion resistance/lower wear rate (12%) at 90° angle of impingement among all compositions. The PCF composite showed the poorest erosive wear resistance, with the lowest resistance at 60° and 90° impingement while the 0.8 wt.% composite exhibited the lowest wear resistance among G‐COOH‐deposited composites at all angles. However, the 0.8 wt.% composite exhibited the highest wear resistance of 15% at 30° angle of impingement compared to other angles. The Al 2 O 3 erodent fragments were deposited into the samples with their highest prominence at 90°, particularly in epoxy‐rich regions across all composites. The deposition morphology and erosive failure mechanisms were analyzed using scanning electron microscope (SEM), while the cross‐sectional G‐COOH deposition morphology within the composite was observed using focused ion beam scanning electron microscope (FIB‐SEM). The interphase thickness was measured with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS) carbon line scanning, and G‐COOH at the interphase was identified through Raman intensity mapping. EDS area mapping of the eroded surface, analyzed using the electron beam source of FIB‐SEM, confirmed the presence of higher number of Al 2 O 3 fragments at higher angles compared to lower angles, with a similar trend observed in G‐COOH‐deposited composites. Additionally, the eroded specimens of G‐COOH‐deposited composites exhibited various major failure mechanisms, such as adhered fiber fracture, interphase failure or adhered G‐COOH, and debonding of G‐COOH/epoxy clusters, whereas the PCF composite primarily exhibited fiber debonding, matrix fracture, and fiber fracture as the dominant failure mechanisms.

To address the limitations of high friction coefficient and porous structures inherent in conventional microarc oxidation (MAO) coatings, a MAO-WS2 composite coating was fabricated on 7075 aluminum alloy by combining MAO with electrophoretic deposition. The influence of processing parameters was investigated, with the deposition voltage optimized at 40 V. The results demonstrate that this optimal composite coating exhibits superior electrochemical and tribological performance. Quantitatively, the self-corrosion current density of the 40 V sample reached 3.66 × 10−9 A/cm2, representing a reduction of three orders of magnitude compared to the 7075 substrate. Furthermore, compared to the pure MAO coating, the composite coating achieved a 63.5% reduction in the wear rate and a decrease in the friction coefficient by approximately 0.5. Investigation into the wear mechanism revealed that the WS2 particles effectively sealed the micropores and promoted the formation of a stable tribo-transfer film, thereby simultaneously enhancing corrosion resistance and wear resistance. These findings confirm that the MAO-WS2 composite strategy provides a highly effective pathway for enhancing the longevity and reliability of aluminum alloys in complex tribo-corrosive environments.

Abstract Stainless steel AISI 304 is used as an electrode material for water electrolysis to produce hydrogen due to its corrosion resistance and relatively low cost. However, its inherently high surface wettability promotes excessive hydrogen bubble accumulation, which decreases gas separation efficiency. This study investigates the enhancement of stainless steel surface hydrophobicity through graphene coating via the Electrophoretic Deposition (EPD) method, followed by sintering at 200 °C – 400 °C. Morphological analysis using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed that uniform graphene distribution is achieved at 300 °C, whereas particle agglomeration and shrinkage occurred at 200 °C and 400 °C. Contact angle measurements confirmed the improvement of hydrophobicity, with the maximum value (91.27°) obtained at 300 °C. Surface roughness analysis also indicated the smoothest and most homogeneous layer at this temperature, which is consistent with reduced wettability. Furthermore, the graphene coating exhibited optimal adhesion and stability at 300 °C, with no signs of thermal degradation. These findings demonstrate that sintering at 300 °C provides the most favorable conditions for enhancing electrode hydrophobicity and performance in water electrolysis applications.

2D macromolecular cobalt-doped nickel-iron-layered double hydroxide lattice building blocks for highly efficient electrocatalytic water oxidation electrode.

Construction of an outstanding HMCF/PEEK interface by cathodic electrophoretic deposition of PEI/MXene composite nanoparticles with excellent stability to enhance the mechanical properties of the composite materials

Biocompatibility screening of additively manufactured Ti alloys with electrophoretic deposition of nano-hydroxyapatite composite layers

Biocompatible thin films are essential for advancing biomedical devices, as they enhance integration with biological tissues, improve device longevity, and reduce complications. The rapid evolution of both medical needs and materials science has led to a diverse array of deposition techniques, each offering unique advantages and challenges for tailoring surface properties without compromising the bulk characteristics of implants and sensors. While laser-based methods-such as pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and Matrix-Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation (MAPLE)-are renowned for their precision, ability to preserve complex material stoichiometry, and suitability for low-temperature processing, the broader landscape includes several other important approaches. Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) techniques, including magnetron sputtering and pulsed electron deposition, are widely used for their ability to create uniform, adherent coatings with controlled thickness and composition, making them suitable for both hard and soft biomedical substrates. Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) and its plasma-enhanced variant (PECVD) offer conformal coatings and excellent control over film chemistry, which is particularly valuable for functional polymer and ceramic films. Other methods, such as sol-gel processing, ion beam deposition, and electrophoretic deposition, provide additional flexibility in terms of coating composition, adhesion, and processing temperature, allowing for the fabrication of films with tailored mechanical, chemical, and biological properties. Despite these advances, the field faces ongoing challenges in optimizing film properties for specific clinical applications, ensuring reproducibility, and scaling up production for widespread use. The necessity of this review lies in its comprehensive comparison of laser-based techniques with alternative deposition methods, providing critical insights into their respective strengths, limitations, and suitability for different biomedical scenarios. By synthesizing recent developments and highlighting current gaps, this review aims to guide researchers and clinicians in selecting the most appropriate thin-film deposition strategies to meet the evolving demands of next-generation biomedical devices.

This paper focuses on analyzing the corrosion mechanism of stone cutting tool surfaces. Rare earth oxide films were prepared on the tool surface using the electrophoretic deposition–sintering method, and their corrosion resistance was investigated. Microstructural and compositional analyses of the surface layer of shot-peened tools and rare earth oxide films were conducted using characterization techniques such as SEM, EBSD, and XRD. The corrosion resistance of the rare earth oxide films was evaluated via an electrochemical workstation. The results indicate that the corrosion morphology on the stone cutting tool surface is pitting corrosion, which is significantly influenced by the friction of the tool coolant. Shot-peening treatment refines the grains in the tool surface layer, promoting the growth of rare earth oxide films. The rare earth oxide film is mainly composed of cerium oxide (CeO2), presenting a continuous and dense structure with slight peeling after sintering. The Group 3 (0.1 mol/L, 3000 V/m, 5 min) rare earth oxide film exhibits the optimal electrochemical behavior and excellent corrosion resistance, with a corrosion potential (Ecorr) of −0.49 V and a corrosion current density (icorr) of 1.445 × 10−7 A/cm2.

The practical deployment of alkaline water electrolysis remains constrained by the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Although the nickel oxide electrocatalyst exhibits strong intrinsic activity, its poor electronic conductivity and structural instability under high anodic bias limit sustained performance. Graphene is frequently employed as a conductive additive, and achieving its optimal integration without blocking active sites or pores remains a key unresolved challenge. We make an attempt to overcome these limitations by integrating picosecond laser-ablated NiO with electrophoretically deposited graphene to form a binder-free, hierarchically porous, and coupled heterointerface. Picosecond laser processing generates oxygen-deficient, high-surface-area NiO with exposed Ni redox centers, while controlled graphene electrophoretic deposition (EPD) establishes a continuous conductive network without obstructing catalytic accessibility. Two NiO base samples fabricated at low and high laser powers were further modified by EPD of graphene for 30 min at 5 and 2.5 V, and their OER performance was evaluated in 1 M KOH. A comprehensive mathematical model rationalizes the existence of an optimal graphene coverage window at lower EPD voltage and short-to-medium deposition times (∼30 min), where a continuous conductive network forms without blocking the porosity. The optimized NiO/graphene electrode (10 W laser power, 2.5 V EPD) delivers an overpotential of 347 mV at 10 mA cm–2, Tafel slope of 53 mV dec–1, and mass activity of ∼4000 A g–1, outperforming pristine NiO and many reported Ni-based TMOs. Chronoamperometry at 100 mA cm–2 shows exceptional stability over 70 h, attributed to graphene-assisted suppression of surface reconstruction and dissolution. The large-scale electrocatalyst synthesis and scalable electrode fabrication always remain as a significant challenge. This hybrid laser-EPD approach can make cost-efficient roll-to-roll manufacturing plausible, taking green hydrogen production toward widespread deployment.

HighlightsEPD spinel coatings benchmarked for SOC interconnect stack integration.Two-step thermal route densifies layers; 1000 °C pre-reduction performs best.Mn-Co outperforms Cu-Mn spinel: lowest Cr evaporation, oxidation, and suitable ASR.Uniform, defect-free coatings on complex flow-field geometries demonstrated.Glass sealant compatible; Mn-Co shows limited interdiffusion and dense joints.

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are a promising alternative to traditional silicon-based technologies due to their low production costs, ease of fabrication, and wide range of applications. Among the semiconductors used in DSSCs, TiO2 stands out for its simple, inexpensive synthesis and lower environmental impact. However, TiO2 has limitations due to its wide bandgap and high charge-carrier recombination. In this study, the incorporation of rGO and its effect on the degree of GO reduction on Cu-doped TiO2 particles were evaluated to enhance light interaction, improve electronic mobility, and suppress recombination. Electrophoretic deposition was employed as an alternative method to obtain Cu-doped, rGO-decorated mesoporous TiO2 films, which were evaluated for power conversion efficiency (PCE) in DSSCs. The materials were characterized using SEM, ICP-OES, UV-Vis, XRD, BET, DLS, and TEM, while the photoanodes were analyzed using FTIR, chronoamperometry, and photovoltaic efficiency tests. The results showed clusters between 1.4 and 2.6 µm, confirming doping, a decrease in the energy gap to 2.99 eV, a stable anatase crystalline phase, and an increase in the specific surface area to 234.82 m2/g. The fabricated cells exhibited a PCE of 2.26% with a TiO2:Cu-rGO photoanode after 20 min of GO reduction, compared to 0.96% for DSSCs with a conventional configuration.

The work provides novel insight into the development of advanced antibacterial surfaces using the combination of essential oils, cinnamon oil, thyme oil, and tea tree oil, as well as their active compounds, including cinnamaldehyde, thymol, and terpinene-4-ol, embedded in the chitosan and sodium alginate matrix. All coatings obtained in a two-stage electrophoretic deposition process on stainless steel and titanium substrates were characterized by high adhesion strength. The microstructural differences between the coatings were mainly related to the size and location of the additives. Structural investigation showed the impact of individual oil components on intermolecular bonds between polysaccharide chains and the formation of molecular interactions in a specific spatial conformation. The surface of all coatings was minimally rough and had a hydrophilic character. A clear matrix-dependent trade-off between antibacterial efficacy and cytocompatibility was observed: alginate-based coatings achieved strong anti-Staphylococcus aureus activity (2.81 log CFU/mL) at the expense of increased cytotoxicity, while chitosan-based systems provided a more favorable cytocompatibility profile, maintaining cell viability above 70% for selected formulations. This work provides insight into the development of natural antibacterial surfaces by the combination of active compounds and shows the distinctions on many levels between the coatings with various polysaccharide matrices.

This review delineates a transformative strategy in advanced materials: the integration of Ti3C2Tx MXene with carbon fibers (CFs) to forge a new class of multifunctional structural composites. This integration strategy signifies a paradigm shift from simple structural components to multifunctional material systems. Moving beyond conventional interface enhancement, precise modification techniques such as self-assembly, electrophoretic deposition, chemical grafting, and blending-spinning synergistically combine the outstanding mechanical properties of CFs with the diverse electrical, thermal, and optical characteristics of Ti3C2Tx MXene. This synergistic coupling effectively overcomes the long-standing limitations of CFs, including surface inertness and functional singularity. The review systematically examines the resulting performance improvements across a range of frontier applications, including interface reinforcement, electromagnetic shielding, battery energy storage, smart sensing, and thermal management. However, achieving industrial applications still depends on overcoming key challenges related to Ti3C2Tx MXene stability, scalable processing, and multifunctional optimization. This review not only summarizes current research progress but also outlines a roadmap for future studies, emphasizing sustainable processing, interfacial nanoengineering, and the rational design of next-generation structure-function-integrated composites.

Molecular structure engineering of COF films via β-Ketoenamine linkages and hydroxyl groups: Scalable fabrication for enhanced electrochromic cycling stability.

Damage self-sensing behavior of basalt fiber/polymer composites modified via electrophoretic deposition

Bioinspired nacre-like hierarchical chitosan/hydroxyapatite coatings by electrophoretic deposition

Fabrication of highly corrosion-resistant Zn-Cu-Ti alloy coatings via anodization and gel-assisted electrophoretic deposition and study of their corrosion properties

Interfacial bonding mechanisms in TiB2/Ti systems fabricated by molten salt electrophoretic deposition: Experimental and first-principles calculation