Electrophoretic Deposition of α-Fe2O3/Chitosan Nanocomposite Coatings for Functional and Biomedical Applications

Promising composite coatings based on hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) mesocrystals of size 110 nm and chitosan (CHT) molecules for different biotechnological applications have been successfully obtained by electrophoretic deposition (EPD). Homogeneous and reproducible coatings have been obtained by studying and controlling the chemical interactions between both phases (alpha-Fe2O3 and CHT). A voltage of 25 V and a deposition time of 5 min were chosen as best deposition conditions, which resulted in highly homogeneous coatings with well-distributed alpha-Fe2O3 particles. According to TGA measurements, the content of alpha-Fe2O3 and chitosan in the final composite coating were found to be 74 and 26 wt%, respectively. The presence of both phases in the composite coating was determined by XRD analysis and the coatings microstructure was observed by SEM.