Synthesis and properties of polyfunctional coatings on aluminum and titanium alloys

Gulmira Yar-Mukhamedova; Nikolai Sakhnenko; Alla Korogodskaya; Iryna Stepanova; Anna Karakurkchi; Daniel Zellele; William Yi Wang; Akmaral Imanbayeva

doi:10.26577/phst20251224

Authors

Gulmira Yar-Mukhamedova Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5642-3481 (unauthenticated)
Nikolai Sakhnenko National Technical University "Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute," Kharkiv, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5525-9525 (unauthenticated)
Alla Korogodskaya National Technical University "Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute," Kharkiv, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1534-2180 (unauthenticated)
Iryna Stepanova National Technical University "Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute," Kharkiv, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7465-868X (unauthenticated)
Anna Karakurkchi 3National Defense University of Ukraine Named After I. Chernyakhovsky, Kyiv, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1287-3859 (unauthenticated)
Daniel Zellele Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1085-5264 (unauthenticated)
William Yi Wang Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaan Xi, China https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8814-525X (unauthenticated)
Akmaral Imanbayeva Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9900-9782 (unauthenticated)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26577/phst20251224

Abstract

This work presents the synthesis of highly active electrode materials for the electrolytic production of
hydrogen from aqueous solutions, which can also serve as photocatalysts. Composite coatings produced by
plasma–electrolytic oxidation on aluminum and titanium alloy substrates, doped with vanadium and tungsten
compounds, were investigated. The electrolysis processes of aqueous solutions using these composites as
electrode materials were analyzed. Linear voltammetry was applied to determine the Tafel equation constants
for the systems WO₃ – V₂O₅ – Al₂O₃/ Al and WO₃ – V₂O₅– TiO₂/ Ti, which are proposed as electrode materials for hydrogen evolution reactions. The study found that the dopant content, the metallic substrate characteristics, and surface morphology strongly influence the coatings’ functional properties. The Tafel coefficients a and b indicate a high level of electrocatalytic activity for the synthesized coatings, confirming their suitability as electrode materials for electrolytic hydrogen production. A comparison of photocatalytic activity in the methyl orange degradation reaction revealed higher activity of the aluminum-based coating than the titanium-based coating, highlighting the relevance of these materials for ecological technologies. The presence of nonstoichiometric oxides, compositional variability, morphological differences, and the developed surface area accounts for their exceptionally high electrocatalytic activity and, therefore, their strong potential for functional applications.

Keywords: plasma electrolytic oxidation, composite coatings, metallic substrates, vanadium and tungsten
oxides, photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, hydrogen evolution reaction, degradation.

Author Biographies

Gulmira Yar-Mukhamedova, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Gulmira Yar-Mukhamedova – Dr. Sci. (Physics and Mathematics), Professor at the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Almaty, Kazakhstan, e-mail: gulmira-alma-ata@mail.ru);
Nikolai Sakhnenko, National Technical University "Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute," Kharkiv, Ukraine

Nikolay Sakhnenko – Dr. Sci. (Physics and Mathematics), Professor at National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute” (Kharkiv, Ukraine, e-mail: nicksakhnenko@gmail.com);
Alla Korogodskaya, National Technical University "Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute," Kharkiv, Ukraine

Alla Korogodskaya – Candidate of Sciences (Physics and Mathematics), Associate Professor at the National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute” (Kharkiv, Ukraine, e-mail: korogodskaya@kpi.kharkov.ua);
Iryna Stepanova, National Technical University "Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute," Kharkiv, Ukraine

Irina Stepanova – Candidate of Science (Physics and Mathematics), Associate Professor at National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute” (Kharkiv, Ukraine, e-mail: stepanova_i@kpi.kharkov.ua);
Anna Karakurkchi, 3National Defense University of Ukraine Named After I. Chernyakhovsky, Kyiv, Ukraine

Anna Karakurkchi – Dr. Sci. (Physics and Mathematical), Professor at National Defense University of Ukraine (Kyiv, Ukraine, e-mail: anyutikukr@gmail.com);
Daniel Zellele, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Daniel Zellele – PhD student (Materials Science and Technology of New Materials) at the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Almaty, Kazakhstan, e-mail: danielmekonnenz@gmail.com);
William Yi Wang, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, Shaan Xi, China

William Yi Wang – PhD, Professor at the Northwestern Polytechnical University (Xi’an, Shaan Xi, China, e-mail: wywang@nwpu.edu.cn);
Akmaral Imanbayeva, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Akmaral Imanbayeva – Candidate of Physics and Mathematical Sciences, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Electronics and Astrophysics, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Almaty, Kazakhstan, e-mail: akmaral@physics.kz).