Microwave-hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of hydroxyapatite nanocrystallites

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanocrystallites were prepared using calcium nitrate tetrahydrate, phosphoric acid and 1,2-ethylenediamine, as raw materials by microwave-hydrothermal (M-H) method in the temperature range of 100-140 degrees C. Obtained reaction products were characterized by XRD, FTIR and SEM. The results showed the crystallization of single HAP phase at all the synthesis temperatures. HAP nanoparticles with high crystallinity could be synthesized at 140 degrees C for only 1 min. It was observed that the morphology of as-obtained HAP powders transformed from rod-like to prism-like nature with the increase of the reaction temperature. The present study indicates that the M-H method is a facile one-pot way to obtain phase pure and high crystalline HAP nanoparticles. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier B.V.