Effect of supersaturation on the morphology of hydroxyapatite crystals deposited by electrochemical deposition on titanium

Cathodic deposition of calcium phosphate coating on titanium using electrochemical method was investigated in our study and well-defined hexagonal rod-like hydroxyapatite (HAp) crystals were synthesized. Scanning electron microscopic photographs of HAp coatings under different deposition durations revealed the morphology change of the HAp crystals in the coating film with the experimental process: from cone-like structure to hexagonal prism with sharp-angled tip, and finally turns to rod-like one with regular hexagonal cross section. It was suggested that both morphology and longitudinal length of the HAp crystals in the coating could be regulated by an accurate control of the degree of supersaturation of the aqueous system.