Hydrothermal synthesis of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles with various counterions as templates

Hydrothermal synthesis proves to be a feasible route to fabricate hydroxyapatite nanoparticles. The study reports the combinational effects of temperature and various counterions, such as SO42−, Cl−, and K+, on the morphology of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles. The resultant nanoparticles are investigated using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show that the effects of temperature and different counterions are significant, and hydroxyapatite nanoparticles with the morphology of nano-platelet and nano-rod are produced without the addition of any organic surfactants. The process described will be beneficial to industry by lowering production costs, and contributing to ever increasing need to eliminate contamination to environment.