A Novel Interface Between Ti6Al4V and Organic Tissue Through a TiO_xC_y Organometallic Multilayer Coating

Highlights: What are the main findings? A novel carbon gradient TiO_xC_y organometallic multilayer coating was successfully developed. The multilayer evolves from mineral-like near the substrate to organic-like in the outermost layer. What are the implications of the main findings? The multilayer closely matches the sum of the individual films, indicating good reproducibility. Oxygen interacts with the precursor (TIPP), modifying the chemical composition of the layers. XPS analyses show a decrease in C with increased O₂ flow, while the Ti:O ratio remains constant. Titanium alloys are widely used in biomedical applications, especially in dental implants. In this work, individual TiO_xC_y thin films and a novel multilayer coating approach were investigated to prevent early implant failure through surface properties optimization. The research focuses on designing an innovative TiO_xC_y organometallic multilayer coating, varying from mineral (low C) to organic (high C), on Ti6Al4V substrates. These coatings were prepared using the PECVD technique, varying parameters as the reactive gas flow to modify the chemical composition, hydrophilicity, and layer thickness. Comprehensive characterization of the surface was conducted using XPS, and by contact angle to evaluate wettability. To further understand the chemical composition within each layer, XPS depth profiling analyses were performed. The results revealed that the newly designed multilayer coating with a decreasing reactive gas flow clearly exhibited a gradient in its composition. Near the upper substrate surface, the layers display a mineral-like, low-carbon structure, transitioning to an organic-like, high-carbon composition at the outermost surface.