CeO2 Incorporated Al2O3-TiO2 Ternary Multifunctional Nanocomposite Reinforced Epoxy Coatings for Metal Substrates with Antibacterial Activity
摘要
CeO2 incorporated Al2O3-TiO2 ternary nanocomposites (Ce@AT) were synthesized via co-precipitation and incorporated into epoxy coatings on metal substrates. Comprehensive characterization by XRD, Raman spectroscopy, FE-SEM, XPS and TEM confirmed the formation of a phase pure ternary CeO2-Al2O3-TiO2 nanocomposite with strong Ce-O-Al and Ce-O-Ti interfacial bonding. Among all compositions, EP-1.0%Ce@AT exhibited the best overall performance with a hydrophobic water contact angle of 102.1°, excellent salt spray resistance beyond 288 h and high electrochemical barrier properties maintained over 60 days of immersion in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. ICP-OES confirmed negligible leaching of constituent ions, establishing the chemical stability and environmental safety of the coating. Furthermore, 1.0%Ce@AT demonstrated notable antibacterial activity against ESBL producing Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli surpassing the streptomycin standard against E. coli. The 1.0%CeO2 content is identified as optimal, delivering a synergistic combination of corrosion barrier performance, surface hydrophobicity, long term durability and antimicrobial efficacy for multifunctional metal substrate protection.