| Summary: | MgAl and MgAl/ZnO coatings were prepared by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) of AZ31 magnesium alloy in aluminate electrolyte (5 g/L NaAlO<sub>2</sub>) without and with addition of ZnO particles in various concentrations. The MgAl coating was partially crystallized and contained MgO and MgAl<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> phases. The addition of ZnO particles to aluminate electrolyte had no significant effect on the surface morphology of formed coatings, while the Zn content increased with ZnO particle concentrations. X-ray diffraction confirmed the incorporation of ZnO particles in the coatings. The photodegradation of methyl orange (10 cm<sup>3</sup> of 8 mg/L) was used to measure the photocatalytic activity (PA) of MgAl and MgAl/ZnO coatings. The PA of MgAl coating after 8 h of irradiation was around 58%, while the PA of MgAl/ZnO coatings formed in aluminate electrolyte with the addition of ZnO particles in concentrations of 4 g/L, 8 g/L, and 12 g/L were around 69%, 86%, and 97%, respectively.
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