Silver-Ion Titanium Oxide Coating via Room-Temperature UV Curing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for creating hydrophobic coatings, particularly those with silver-ion-containing titanium oxide, fail to achieve persistent hydrophobicity at the micrometer-scale and require high-temperature processing, limiting their application in medical implants and microfluidics due to energy costs and material constraints.
Innovation Solution
A sol-gel process is developed that includes producing a titanium-oxide layer with silver ions in a specific molar ratio, followed by UV irradiation at room temperature without sintering or pyrolysis, allowing for persistent hydrophobicity setting in the micrometer-scale range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thermal treatment above 200°C is used to cure the coating layers, then the coating achieves proper curing and structural stability, but the energy costs increase and material constraints limit application in medical implants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the curing parameter from thermal treatment above 200°C to UV irradiation at room temperature. The sol-gel coating is cured by exposure to UV light (wavelength 250-400 nm) instead of high-temperature thermal treatment, achieving proper curing and structural stability without the energy costs and material constraints associated with high-temperature processing.
2Reliability
If high-temperature processing is used to create hydrophobic coatings, then the coating achieves proper formation, but the manufacturing costs increase due to high energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the processing temperature parameter from high-temperature thermal treatment to room temperature UV irradiation. The sol-gel coating process uses UV light (250-400 nm wavelength) to cure and form the hydrophobic coating at room temperature, eliminating the high energy consumption associated with traditional high-temperature processing while maintaining proper coating formation quality.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional methods are used to create hydrophobic surfaces, then coating can be applied, but persistent hydrophobicity at micrometer-scale cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the surface treatment parameter from conventional thermal or chemical methods to UV irradiation (250-400 nm wavelength). This UV treatment creates persistent hydrophobicity at the micrometer-scale by modifying the surface chemistry of the sol-gel coating, achieving both ease of manufacture through simple irradiation and precise hydrophobicity control that conventional methods cannot achieve.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The process achieves stable, persistent hydrophobicity with a contact angle that remains unchanged after irradiation, reducing energy costs and enabling precise hydrophobicity control for medical implants and microfluidics applications.
Implementation Method 1
A production process for a coating is described, in which a titanium-oxide layer is produced by a sol-gel process
Implementation Method 2
adding an aqueous solution for hydrolyzing the Ti precursor
Implementation Method 3
subsequent illumination with UV light (wavelength 250 nm to 400 nm)
Implementation Method 4
applying on a suitable carrier
Data Source
AI summary
Substrate having a silver-ion containing titanium oxide coating having a silver content of greater than or equal to 0.2 of Ag/l of Ti to less than or equal to 0.4 of Ag/l of Ti, wherein the coating is X-ray amorphous and the hydrophobicity of the coating can be reduced persistently by illumination.