Synthesis and Characterization of Tb-incorporated Apatite Nano-scale Powders

Nano-scale Tb-incorporated apatite (nano-Tb-AP) particles with different Tb contents (Tb/(Tb+Ca)) of 0%, 5%, 10% and 20% were synthesized through a simple wet chemical method in this study. The crystal structure, thermal stabilities, chemical groups, crystal morphologies and crystal sizes of the nano-Tb-AP particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. It was found that lattice constants, particle sizes, crystalline and thermal stability varied with the doped Tb contents. With the increasing of Tb content, the lattice constants, particle size, length/diameter ratio, crystalline and thermal stability of nano-Tb-AP gradually decrease. Especially, almost all the 20%Tb-AP nano particles had been decomposed at 1200 °C while only a few of the decomposed products (β-TCP) were detected in the Tb-free nano apatite powders. This kind of nano-scale Tb-incorporated apatite exhibits an extremely potential clinic application because it integrates both the excellent biological functions of Tb element and apatite in human body.