This dataset contains the information on our recent body of work on the electrodeposition of composite films comprising a calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite matrix with nanoscale Ag- or Zn-based particles and all the relevant data files. A fundamental study regarding the electrochemical synthesis of composite coatings with application in the orthopaedic field has been conducted. In particular, the electrodeposition of calcium phosphate coatings with Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) from either a single electrolyte (one-step, 1S) or two electrolytes (two-step, 2S) on a b-Ti alloy (Ti-18Mo-6Nb-4Ta in wt%) was investigated. Pulse current deposition was implemented to produce the composite coatings by the 1S approach from a simple solution containing 42 mM Ca(NO3)2·4H2O, 25 mM NH4H2PO4, and 0.5 mM AgNO3 at 65 °C. Meanwhile, the calcium phosphate matrix was also deposited by pulse current, and Ag was afterwards grown by direct current from 0.1 M KNO3 + x mM AgNO3 (x = 5, 10) at 25 ºC (2S approach). The Ca/P ratio of the matrix was compatible with the formation of calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHA). The resulting Ag content in the composites could be varied between 4 and 13 wt% as a function of the working conditions. The 2S-derived coatings produced by electroplating Ag at j = –20.8 mA/cm2 from 0.1 M KNO3 + 10 mM AgNO3 furnished an optimal dispersion of the AgNPs on top of the CDHA matrix, while aggregation and/or dendritic growth was observed in other cases. Glow discharge optical emission spectrometry (GDOES) measurements indicated that a given amount of AgNPs becomes engulfed in the CDHA matrix during the 1S electrodeposition, whereas most of them decorate its outer surface in the 2S-derived coatings. The applicability of the two approaches was extended to the case of zinc oxide. ZnO-containing CDHA coatings in which the Zn element was homogeneously distributed across the film surface were obtained from 42 mM Ca(NO3)2·4H2O, 25 mM NH4H2PO4 and 1 mM Zn(NO3)2·6H2O at 65 ºC (1S approach). On the contrary, ZnO-NPs could be clearly observed when deposition from 5 mM KNO3 + 5 mM Zn(NO3)2 was performed at 70 ºC on top of previously grown CDHA (2S approach). The results indicated that the percentage and location of the antibacterial element (Ag, Zn) in the calcium phosphate matrix can be tuned on demand to a great extent by electrochemical means.

1. Description of methods used for collection-generation of data: Various experimental tools were employed in this line of work, such as scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and electron backscattered detectors for morphological and elemental/chemical studies; focused ion beam (FIB) technique for coatings thicknesses measurement; glow discharge optical emission spectrometry for elemental distribution analysis and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction for structural studies.

2. Methods for processing the data: The data files can be processed using MatLab, PowerPoint, ImageJ, X’Pert HighScore Plus and Excel.

3. Instrument- or software- specific information needed to interpret the data: Electrochemical, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction data are presented as OCW/OXW, txt and UXD files, respectively, which can be open using the Notepad, Excel or MatLab for further processing.

4. Instruments, calibration and standards information:

1. Environmental or experimental conditions: The measurements were conducted at ambient conditions.

2. Quality-assurance procedures performed on the data: The results were carefully analyzed and interpreted. A peer review process of the corresponding scientific article by experts in this field has been done, which resulted in its publication in Surfaces and Interfaces.