Patent ID: 8882983

Claim:
A method of forming a ceramic film on a substrate having a conductive surface, comprising: immersing the substrate having the conductive surface in an aqueous solution, wherein the solution has at least one corrosive solute which is corrosive to the conductive surface, within a corrosive range of a composition of the solution and a corrosive voltage potential of the conductive surface with respect to a counter electrode in the solution; applying a cathodic voltage potential on the conductive surface with respect to the counter electrode and controlling the composition of the solution by adding at least one ceramic precursor, sufficient to subject the conductive surface to conditions outside the corrosive range to thermodynamically protect the conductive surface from corrosion by the corrosive solute, and to drive formation of the ceramic film on the conductive surface through at least one electrochemical oxidation reaction of the at least one ceramic precursor; and maintaining the cathodic voltage potential and composition of the solution outside of the corrosive range to promote formation of the ceramic film on the conductive surface while limiting an extent of at least one corrosive electrochemical reaction of the corrosive solute proximate to the conductive surface, and limiting hydrolysis of water within the aqueous solution to reduce peeling of the ceramic film from the conductive surface for a sufficient duration to produce a desired thickness of the ceramic film on the conductive surface while preserving the conductive surface; wherein the conductive surface comprises metallic copper; wherein the ceramic film comprises titanium dioxide; wherein the solution comprises hydrogen peroxide; wherein the at least one ceramic precursor comprises titanium tetrachloride; and wherein the cathodic voltage potential is between −5V and −10V.