Click-assembling film modified on different copper substrates and their comprehensive performance

A triazole (1-(p-tolylthio)-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxylic acid, TTC) film was prepared via an in-situ click-assembling reaction between tosyl azide (TA) and propiolic acid (PA) on Cu, Cu2O and CuO substrates. Its surface wettability, antibacterial activity and anticorrosion ability were evaluated by surface characterizations, antibacterial testing and electrochemical measurements. The modified-Cu2O film exhibits the best overall performance. The anticorrosion protection efficiency of the modified-Cu2O film for copper is 91.1%. The modified-Cu2O film shows a superior hydrophobicity with a contact angle of 137 degrees and it also has the best antibacterial activity. The FT-IR and surface analysis (SEM and XPS) reveal that the excellent anticorrosion ability of the modified-Cu2O film is mainly due to the massive TTC film assembled on its surface. The large amount of TTC also contributes to the best hydrophobicity and antibacterial activity. The theoretical calculations show that the TTC film is formed via the horizontal adsorption of a triazole ring and O atoms in the TTC molecule.