Thin Film X-ray Diffraction Research Articles

A bioactive metallurgical grade porous silicon-polytetrafluoroethylene sheet for guided bone regeneration applications.

The properties of porous silicon make it a promising material for a host of applications including drug delivery, molecular and cell-based biosensing, and tissue engineering. Porous silicon has previously shown its potential for the controlled release of pharmacological agents and in assisting bone healing. Hydroxyapatite, the principle constituent of bone, allows osteointegration in vivo, due to its chemical and physical similarities to bone. Synthetic hydroxyapatite is currently applied as a surface coating to medical devices and prosthetics, encouraging bone in-growth at their surface and improving osseointegration. This paper examines the potential for the use of an economically produced porous silicon particulate-polytetrafluoroethylene sheet for use as a guided bone regeneration device in periodontal and orthopaedic applications. The particulate sheet is comprised of a series of microparticles in a polytetrafluoroethylene matrix and is shown to produce a stable hydroxyapatite on its surface under simulated physiological conditions. The microstructure of the material is examined both before and after simulated body fluid experiments for a period of 1, 7, 14 and 30 days using Scanning Electron Microscopy. The composition is examined using a combination of Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, Thin film X-ray diffraction, Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and the uptake/release of constituents at the fluid-solid interface is explored using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy. Microstructural and compositional analysis reveals progressive growth of crystalline, 'bone-like' apatite on the surface of the material, indicating the likelihood of close bony apposition in vivo.

Solution-processed CdS thin films from a single-source precursor

Herein we outline the in situ formation of a solution processable CdS precursor, which undergoes facile thermal decomposition to form thin films of the metal sulfide. Through the use of 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) we examine the speciation of [Cd(EtXn)2] upon dissolution and investigate the decomposition of the xanthate complex with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis-mass spectroscopy (TGA-MS) and head space gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (HS GC-MS). The effect of using a CdCl2 treatment to promote crystallite growth at various temperatures is elucidated by thin film XRD, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV-vis spectroscopy. Field effect transistors are fabricated to measure the mobility of the CdS thin films and spectral photoconductivity measurements reveal optimised deposition conditions give thin films with optoelectronic properties comparable to those of CdS formed by chemical bath deposition.

In-vitro biocompatibility and corrosion resistance of strontium incorporated TiO2 nanotube arrays for orthopaedic applications

This article investigates the in-vitro biocompatibility and corrosion behaviour of strontium ion incorporated TiO2 nanotube arrays formed by anodization method for orthopaedic applications. The morphological studies were carried out using field emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, attenuated total reflectance fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and thin film X-ray diffraction techniques. The morphological investigation indicated that the length and the average diameter of nanotube were 2.1 ± 0.3 µm and 110 ± 4 nm, respectively. The wettability measurements showed that the TiO2 nanotube arrays have super wettability, as well as, strontium ion incorporated TiO2 nanotube arrays exhibited hydrophilic behaviour. Excellent in-vitro bioactivity was observed for TiO2 nanotube arrays with strontium ions. Electrochemical studies in Hank's solution showed that the TiO2 nanotube arrays with strontium ions have enhanced corrosion resistance.

Can the Hydrophilicity of Functional Monomers Affect Chemical Interaction?

The number of carbon atoms and/or ester/polyether groups in spacer chains may influence the interaction of functional monomers with calcium and dentin. The present study assessed the chemical interaction and bond strength of 5 standard-synthesized phosphoric-acid ester functional monomers with different spacer chain characteristics, by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), ATR-FTIR, thin-film x-ray diffraction (TF-XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and microtensile bond strength (μTBS). The tested functional monomers were 2-MEP (two-carbon spacer chain), 10-MDP (10-carbon), 12-MDDP (12-carbon), MTEP (more hydrophilic polyether spacer chain), and CAP-P (intermediate hydrophilicity ester spacer). The intensity of monomer-calcium salt formation measured by AAS differed in the order of 12-MDDP=10-MDP>CAP-P>MTEP>2-MEP. FTIR and SEM analyses of monomer-treated dentin surfaces showed resistance to rinsing for all monomer-dentin bonds, except with 2-MEP. TF-XRD confirmed the weaker interaction of 2-MEP. Highest µTBS was observed for 12-MDDP and 10-MDP. A shorter spacer chain (2-MEP) of phosphate functional monomers induced formation of unstable monomer-calcium salts, and lower chemical interaction and dentin bond strength. The presence of ester or ether groups within longer spacer carbon chains (CAP-P and MTEP) may affect the hydrophilicity, μTBS, and also the formation of monomer-calcium salts.

Preparation and characterization of micro-arc-induced Pd/TM(TM = Ni, Co and Ti) catalysts and comparison of their electrocatalytic activities toward ethanol oxidation

Using the electro-spark deposition technique, a novel kind of Pd/TM (TM=Ni, Co and Ti) electrode was successfully prepared by arc-depositing Pd on the transition metal substrates. The structure, morphology and chemical composition of the arc-deposited films were investigated using thin-film X-ray diffraction (TF-XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The results show that, a coarsening topographical morphology can be obtained, being composed of numerous craters/spots with sizes ranging from nano-scales to several microns. The electrochemical measurements indicate that the arc-deposited Pd/TM electrodes exhibit distinct electrochemical behaviors and the catalytic activity toward ethanol electro-oxidation reaction (EOR) is highly dependent upon the nature of substrate. Among the Pd/TM electrodes investigated, the arc-deposited Pd/Co reveals the best activity and superior poisoning tolerance towards ethanol oxidation and will find promising applications as a candidate for the anode catalyst of direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFCs).

Synthesis of Solution-Processable Poly(cyclopenta[c]selenylvinylene) and Its Charge Transport Properties: Comparative Study with the Thiophene Analogue

We report here the synthesis and characterization of 5,5-bis(dodecyloxymethyl)-5,6-dihydro-4H-cyclopenta[c]selenophene (DCPS) and its characterization by single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. In continuation to this, two new solution-processable copolymers PDCPSV and PDCPTV, comprising of DCPS and 5,5-bis(dodecyloxymethyl)-5,6-dihydro-4H-cyclopenta[c]thiophene (DCPT), respectively, in combination with vinylene unit were synthesized, characterized and compared on the basis of their physical, optical and electronic properties. We have successfully introduced vinylene linkage between two consecutive DCPS or DCPT units in the polymer main chain that resulted in low band gap and oxidatively stable polymers. The 3,4-cyclopentane substitution on thiophene and selenophene affords the planarity to the resulting polymers and the question of regioregularity does not arise in the polymer chain in contrast to the 3-alkyl substitution. PDCPSV showed a p-type mobility of 5.6 × 10–3 cm2 V–1 s–1, whereas PDCPTV showed 3.8 × 10–3 cm2 V–1 s–1. The polymers were further characterized by GPC, TGA, DSC, thin-film XRD, and cyclic voltammetry (CV).

Matrix isolation studies of carbonic acid--the vapor phase above the β-polymorph.

Twenty years ago two different polymorphs of carbonic acid, α- and β-H2CO3, were isolated as thin, crystalline films. They were characterized by infrared and, of late, by Raman spectroscopy. Determination of the crystal structure of these two polymorphs, using cryopowder and thin film X-ray diffraction techniques, has failed so far. Recently, we succeeded in sublimating α-H2CO3 and trapping the vapor phase in a noble gas matrix, which was analyzed by infrared spectroscopy. In the same way we have now investigated the β-polymorph. Unlike α-H2CO3, β-H2CO3 was regarded to decompose upon sublimation. Still, we have succeeded in isolation of undecomposed carbonic acid in the matrix and recondensation after removal of the matrix here. This possibility of sublimation and recondensation cycles of β-H2CO3 adds a new aspect to the chemistry of carbonic acid in astrophysical environments, especially because there is a direct way of β-H2CO3 formation in space, but none for α-H2CO3. Assignments of the FTIR spectra of the isolated molecules unambiguously reveal two different carbonic acid monomer conformers (C2v and Cs). In contrast to the earlier study on α-H2CO3, we do not find evidence for centrosymmetric (C2h) carbonic acid dimers here. This suggests that two monomers are entropically favored at the sublimation temperature of 250 K for β-H2CO3, whereas they are not at the sublimation temperature of 210 K for α-H2CO3.

Bioinspired Synthesis of a Soft-Nanofilament-Based Coating Consisting of Polysilsesquioxanes/Polyamine and Its Divergent Surface Control

The synthesis of polysilsesquioxanes coating with controllable one-dimensional nanostructure on substrates remains a major long-term challenge by conventional solution-phase method. The hydrolytic polycondensation of organosilanes in solution normally produces a mixture of incomplete cages, ladderlike, and network structures, resulting in the poor control of the formation of specific nanostructure. This paper describes a simple aqueous process to synthesize nanofilament-based coatings of polysilsesquioxanes possessing various organo-functional groups (for example, thiol, methyl, phenyl, vinyl, and epoxy). We utilized a self-assembled nanostructured polyamine layer as a biomimetically catalytic scaffold/template to direct the formation of one-dimensional nanofilament of polysilsesquioxanes by temporally and spatially controlled hydrolytic polycondensation of organosilane. The surface nanostructure and morphology of polysilsesquioxane coating could be modulated by changing hydrolysis and condensation reaction conditions, and the orientation of nanofilaments of polysilsesquioxanes on substrates could be controlled by simply adjusting the self-assembly conditions of polyamine layer. The nanostructure and polyamine@polysilsesquioxane hybrid composition of nanofilament-based coatings were examined by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The template role of nanostructured polyamine layer for the formation of polysilsesquioxane nanofilament was confirmed by combining thin film X-ray diffraction (XRD) and XPS measurements. Moreover, these nanotextured coatings with various organo-functional groups could be changed into superhydrophobic surfaces after surface modification with fluorocarbon molecule.

Synthesis and characterisation of β-tricalcium phosphate coating on zirconia toughened alumina by biomimetic method

The present work studied bioactive coatings on the surface of ceramic biomaterials. Zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA) composites containing 15 mol.-%. Partially stabilised zirconia was prepared after 1 h sintering at 1550°C. Apatite layers were then coated onto the surfaces of composites by the biomimetic method using 1·5–2 multiply concentrations of simulated body fluid (SBF). Before treatment in SBFs, a sodium silicate layer was employed as nucleating agent to induce the formation of a calcium phosphate layer. The effect of immersion time on the morphology of the precipitate was monitored with a scanning electron microscope. X dot maps revealed that there is a relationship between distribution of Ca–P and ZTA surface. X-ray diffractometry patterns, calcium/phosphor molar ratio and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that β-tricalcium phosphate and calcium deficient hydroxyapatite precipitated onto substrates via biomimetic. The thin film X-ray diffraction pattern showed that the calcium deficient hydroxyapatite decomposed into β-tricalcium phosphate and CaO after 0·5 h of heat treatment at 700°C.

Effects of electrochemical boriding process parameters on the formation of titanium borides

In this study, the boriding of titanium via molten salt electrolysis was investigated in borax based electrolyte at various current densities (50–700 mA/cm2), temperatures (900–1200°C) and process durations (1 min-4 h). Thin film XRD results revealed that two main titanium boride phases TiB2 and TiB was formed even after 1 minute of process time. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images conducted on the cross-sections demonstrated a bilayer boride structure composed of a continuous uniform TiB2 phase and TiB whiskers that grew below the TiB2 layer toward the substrate. Dependence of boride layer thickness and morphology on the process parameters was evaluated. The results of the study showed that temperature of boriding was the most critical parameter both on boriding rate and morphology of the boride layer. It was possible to grow 8 μm thick TiB2 layer on titanium in 30 minutes of boriding at 1200°C.

The effect of controllable thin film crystal growth on the aggregation of a novel high panchromaticity squaraine viable for organic solar cells

A description of the synthesis procedure is provided for a new squaraine molecule, DiPSQ(OH)2. This molecule is an interesting target molecule for organic photovoltaics (OPV) because of its unusually broad panchromaticity, suggesting a tighter molecular packing than would be expected, given its bulky alkyl side groups. UV–vis–NIR absorption data provides evidence for the presence of both H- and J-aggregates. Thin film X-ray diffraction (TFXRD) data supports the presence of one dominant crystal structure. Further interpretation of TFXRD results and complementary Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) characterization for pure and blended samples provides a comprehensive explanation of how DiPSQ(OH)2 aggregates are affected by annealing and crystal growth. The described aggregation properties of donor–acceptor blends for solar cells are strongly dependent on annealing. Influencing phase separation, local crystallinity, and macroscopic crystallization, these physical properties are known to significantly impact charge dissociation, exciton diffusion rates, and bulk charge transport in devices. The strategy of systematically varying annealing times has resulted in improved bulk heterojunction crystallinity and regions of increased phase separation, both necessary to achieve the long term goal of morphological control for commercially viable NIR-active OPV devices.

New Donor–Acceptor–Donor Molecules with Pechmann Dye as the Core Moiety for Solution-Processed Good-Performance Organic Field-Effect Transistors

In this paper, we report the synthesis and characterization of two new D-A-D molecules (E)-5,5′-bis(5-(benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)thiophen-2-yl)-1,1′-bis(2-ethyl- hexyl)-[3,3′-bipyrrolylidene]-2,2′(1H,1′H)-dione (BTBPD) and (E)-5,5′-bis- (5-(benzo[b]furan-2-yl)thiophen-2-yl)-1,1′-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-[3,3′-bipyrrolylidene]-2,2′(1H,1′H)-dione (BFBPD). They entail bipyrrolylidene-2,2′(1H,1′H)-dione (BPD, known as Pechmann dye) as the electron-accepting core that is flanked by two benzo[b]thiophene moieties and two benzo[b]furan moieties, respectively. Crystal structures of BTBPD and BFBPD provide solid evidence for the intermolecular donor–acceptor (D-A) interactions, which are favorable for improving charge transport performance. Organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) were prepared based on thin films of BTBPD and BFBPD through solution-processed technique. OFETs of BTBPD exhibit relatively high hole mobility up to 1.4 cm2 V–1 s–1 with high on/off ratio up to 106. In comparison, the hole mobility of OFETs with BFBPD (0.14 cm2 V–1 s–1) is relatively low, because of the poor thin-film morphology and low molecular ordering, even after annealing. Thin-film morphological and XRD studies were carried out to understand the variation of hole mobilities after annealing at different temperatures. The present studies clearly demonstrate the potentials of BPD that is planar and polar as the electron-acceptor moiety to build D-A molecules for organic semiconductors with good performance.

Morphology andIn VitroBehavior of Electrospun Fibrous Poly(D,L-lactic acid) for Biomedical Applications

This work describes the fabrication, optimization, and characterization of electrospun fibrous poly(D,L-lactic acid) (PDLLA) for biomedical applications. The influences of the polymer concentration of the electrospinning solution (5, 10, or 15 wt%) and the solution flow rate (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0 mL/h) on the morphology of the obtained fibrous PDLLA were evaluated. Thein vitrobiocompatibility of two types of PDLLA, ester terminated PDLLA (PDLLA-R) and carboxyl terminated PDLLA (PDLLA-COOH), was evaluated by monitoring apatite formation on samples immersed in Hanks’ balanced salt (HBS) solution. 15 wt% polymer solution was the most beneficial for preparing a fibrous PDLLA structure. Meanwhile, no differences in morphology were observed for PDLLA prepared at various flow rates. Apatite precipitate is formed on both types of PDLLA only 1 day after immersion in HBS solution. After 7 days of immersion, PDLLA-COOH showed greater apatite formation ability compared with that of PDLLA-R, as measured by thin-film X-ray diffraction. The results indicated that the carboxyl group is effective for apatite precipitation in the body environment.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation on Electrochemically Modified Titanium: An Optimized Approach for Biomedical Applications

To speed up the osteointegration process, surface-treated titanium has been widely used in dental and orthopedic applications. The present work describes a new silicon-based anodic spark deposition (ASD) treatment and investigates the properties of the surfaces obtained, focusing on their capability to modulate the osteogenic differentiation potential of adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The surfaces examined were obtained from commercially pure grade 2 titanium by a single-step ASD (SUM) eventually followed by a thermal treatment in alkali solution (SUMNa), while acid-etched titanium (AE; NextMaterials s.r.l.) was selected as a control. Their morphology, elemental composition, crystallographic structure of the Ti2O layer, wettability and topography were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, thin-film X-ray diffraction, contact angle measurements and laser profilometry, respectively. MSCs' response to surface properties was assessed by examining cell morphology and viability by scanning electron microscopy and Alamar Blue assay®, while their osteogenic differentiation potential was investigated by evaluating the levels of the enzyme alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and the degree of calcium accumulation by Alizarin Red-S (AR-S) staining. The proposed ASD treatment has allowed the obtaining of surfaces with round-shaped micrometric pores, enriched in calcium, phosphorus and silicon and significantly more wettable than controls; furthermore, the treatment has been shown to promote MSC proliferation and the degree of in vitro mineralization. The described ASD treatment may be an effective technique to modify the surface cues of titanium implants, aiming at enhancing the conveying of osteoprogenitor cells and their functional differentiation in bone cells.

Effects of Anodic Voltages on Microstructure and Properties of Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation Coatings on Biomedical NiTi Alloy

Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) coatings, formed under various anodic voltages (320–440 V) on biomedical NiTi alloy, are mainly composed of γ-Al2O3 crystal phase. The evolution of discharging sparks during the PEO process under different anodic voltages was observed. The surface and cross-sectional morphologies, composition, bonding strength, wear resistance and corrosion resistance of the coatings were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thin-film X-ray diffraction (TF-XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), surface roughness, direct pull-off test, ball-on-disk friction and wear test and potentiodynamic polarization test, respectively. The results showed that the evolution of discharging sparks during the PEO process directly influenced the microstructure of the PEO coatings and further influences the properties. When the anodic voltage increased from 320 V to 400 V, the corrosion resistance and wear resistance of the coatings slowly increased, and all the bonding strength was higher than 60 MPa; further increasing the anodic voltages, especially up to 440 V, although the thickness and γ-Al2O3 crystallinity of the coatings further increased, the microstructure and properties of the coatings were obviously deteriorated.

A facile preparation of novel Pt-decorated Ti electrode for methanol electro-oxidation by high-energy micro-arc cladding technique

In this paper, a novel Pt-decorated Ti electrode was prepared by a high-energy micro-arc cladding (HEMAC) technique for methanol electro-oxidation in alkaline media. The surface structure, morphology, composition and electrocatalytic properties were investigated by thin-film X-ray diffraction (TF-XRD), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX) and electrochemical measurements. The results show that the Ptarc-depTi surface mainly comprises Ti, Pt, Pt3Ti and PtTi3. Moreover, a coarsening topographical morphology can be obtained, being composed of numerous craters/spots with sizes ranging from nano-scales to several microns. The Ptarc-depTi alleviates the CO poisoning effect of methanol electro-oxidation with a higher ratio of the forward anodic peak current (If) to the reverse anodic peak current (Ib). The improvement in the catalytic performance should be attributed to that the surrounding Ti sites ameliorate the tolerance to CO adsorption on Pt islands. The Ptarc-depTi electrode reveals its superior electrocatalytic performance toward methanol oxidation and will find promising applications in fields of catalysis, fuel cells and so forth.

Dual action antibacterial TiO2 nanotubes incorporated with silver nanoparticles and coated with a quaternary ammonium salt (QAS)

To exploit titanium implants with long-term antibacterial property, TiO2 nanotubes were firstly generated onto titanium substrates via an anodization method, silver nanoparticles were then formed in situ within the TiO2 nanotubes and a quaternary ammonium salt (QAS, 3-trimethoxysily-propyldimethyloctadecyl-ammonium chloride) was immobilized onto TiO2 nanotubes. The successful construction of the antibacterial TiO2 nanotubes was revealed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thin-film X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and contact angle measurements, respectively. The antibacterial property of the prepared substrates was determined using zone of inhibition (ZoI) and antibacterial rates of Escherichia coli (E. coli). The cytotoxicity of the substrates was evaluated with osteoblasts in vitro. The Ag nanoparticle loaded and QAS coated TiO2 nanotube substrates (TiO2 nanotube-Ag-QAS) demonstrated long-term antibacterial effect. Moreover, TiO2 nanotube-Ag-QAS substrates displayed good biocompatibility. The study presented a promising approach to fabricate antibacterial titanium-based implants for orthopedic application.

Evaluation of in vitro bioactivity and MG63 Oesteoblast cell response for TiO2 coated magnesium alloys

The present investigation reports TiO2 coating on magnesium alloy AZ31 by sol–gel method via dip coating technique. TiO2 coated surface was characterized by thin film X-ray diffraction (TF-XRD), Fourier transform infrared red (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. From TF-XRD results, the peaks at 2θ values of 25.14, 32.12, 68.73 and 70.11 confirm the presence of TiO2. The TiO2 is crystalline in nature and the crystallite size is about 32.4 nm. SEM-EDX, TEM and AFM show that the coated surface is uniform and nanoporous. FT-IR analysis shows that the peak in the range of 692 cm−1 is assigned to Ti–O–Ti stretching vibration. Contact angle measurements show that the coating is hydrophilic in nature. Bioactivity of the coating in simulated body fluid (SBF) was also examined, the hydroxyl functionalized surface greatly enhances the hydroxyapatite growth. The potentiodynamic polarization studies prove that the corrosion resistance of the TiO2 coated surface after immersion in SBF for 7 days is improved dramatically. Cell adhesion studies confirm the increased cell attachment on TiO2 coated surface when compared to uncoated alloy, due to less amount of Mg ion release from the substrate in the culture medium.

An easily made thienoacene comprising seven fused rings for ambient-stable organic thin film transistors

A novel easily made thienoacene-based organic semiconductor, i.e., dinaphtho[3,4-d:3′,4′-d′]benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene (Ph5T2), was synthesized in high yield, and its thermal stability, electrochemical properties, thin-film morphology and field-effect mobility were investigated. Ph5T2 exhibit excellent thermal stability with a decomposition temperature (Td) of 427°C. Thin-film X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) characterizations indicate that Ph5T2 can form highly ordered films with large domain size on the para-sexiphenyl (6P)-modified substrates. Organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) with top-contact geometry based on Ph5T2 exhibit mobilities up to 1.2cm2V−1s−1 in ambient. The devices are highly stable and exhibit almost no performance degradation during 3months storage under ambient conditions with relative humidity up to 80%.

Biological Behavior of Osteoblast-like Cells on Titania and Zirconia Films Deposited by Cathodic Arc Deposition

Cathodic arc deposition technique was used to deposit zirconia (ZrO(2)) films and titania (TiO(2)) films on titanium (Ti) disks respectively. The surface topography was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The element composition of the films was detected by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The phase of films was identified by thin film X-ray diffraction. The biological behavior of osteoblast-like MG63 cells cultured on Ti, TiO(2) and ZrO(2) was investigated and the possible signaling molecules involved was studied by the gene expressions of integrin β1, extracellular related kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and c-fos. The results indicated that both the TiO(2) and ZrO(2) films were amorphous. Scanning electron microscopy study showed that the adhesion of MG63 cells on TiO(2) and ZrO(2) films was significantly enhanced compared to Ti. The CCK8 assay indicated that the TiO(2) and ZrO(2) films promoted the proliferation of MG-63 cells. The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity test and the production of type collagen I (COLI) by immunofluorescence showed that both the TiO(2) and ZrO(2) films can enhance ALP activity and COLI expression of MG-63 cells. In addition, the ALP activity on ZrO(2) films was higher than on TiO(2) films at day 4, which indicate ZrO(2) films may lead to promotion of a more osteoblastic phenotype of MG-63 cells than TiO(2) films. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated that The gene expression of integrin β1, ERK1/2, and c-fos was higher on TiO(2) and ZrO(2) films than on Ti. The present work suggests that the amorphous ZrO(2) films produced by cathodic arc deposition may be favorable for orthopedic implant applications and worth further study.