Growth and characterization of hydroxyapatite nanorice on TiO2 nanofibers

Hydroxyapatite (HA) coating with nanoparticles like nanorice is fabricated on chemically pretreated titanium (Ti) surface, through an electrochemical deposition approach, for biomaterial applications. The Ti surface was chemically patterned with anatase TiO2 nanofibers. These nanofibers were prepared by in situ oxidation of Ti foils in a concentrated solution of H2O2 and NaOH, followed by proton exchange and calcinations. Afterward, TiO2 nanofibers on Ti substrate were coated with HA nanoparticles like nanorice. The obtained samples were annealed at high temperature to produce inter diffusion between TiO2 and HA layers. The resultant layers were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), corrosion tests in SBF solution, and Electron Probe Micro Analysis (EPMA). It was found that only Ti from the titanium substrate diffuses into the HA coating and a good corrosion resistance in simulated body fluid was obtained. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.