Cu (II)-Containing Micro-Arc Oxidation Ceramic Layers on Aluminum: Formation, Composition, and Catalytic Properties

The ceramic layers containing Cu(II) were prepared by Micro-arc Oxidation on aluminum under alkaline electrolyte (NaSiO3; Cu(Ac)2; Na2WO4; Na3PO4; Na2B4O7). Using x ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet spectrophotometry and chemical oxygen demand analyzer on the film composition, structure and catalytic properties were characterized. The results showed that when the Cu2p peaks emerged in XPS pattern, the corresponding substances were CuO and Al2CuO4, it told us that there had the catalyst in the ceramic coating composition containing CuO. As can be seen from the SEM image analysis, with the pulse width increased, the ceramic layer surface volcanic hole size also increased and the area density trended to loose. Meanwhile, phenol oxidation test results demonstrated that with the pulse width parameter increasing, the catalytic effect of the micro-arc oxidation ceramic layers trended to increasing. However, at higher pulse width such as 750 microseconds, the conversion rate of phenol was weakened strongly.