Dual mineralization of dicalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite formation on both sides of porous membrane: Alternating current induces pH-modulated crystal deposition

Dual mineralization on a porous membrane was carried out using an electrochemical approach. The porous membrane was interposed between a pair of glass cells, and calcium chloride (CaCl2) and sodium hydrogenphosphate (Na2HPO4) solutions were separately injected into the cells. After inserting platinum electrodes into the cells, an alternating current with a sine waveform was applied for a given period of time. The resulting membrane was removed from the glass cells and rinsed with ultrapure water. The minerals formed on the membrane were analyzed by using spectroscopic methods such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) and identified to be dicalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite. It was noted that dicalcium phosphate formed on one side of the membrane, while hydroxyapatite was formed on the other side. Thus, dual mineralization could be successfully achieved on both sides of the porous membrane under an alternating current. This process of dual mineralization is very useful for the formation of versatile organic–inorganic hybrids and also for the regulation of the polymorphs on either side of a membrane.