Rapid synthesis and characterization of Zn substituted hydroxyapatite nanoparticles via a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method

Hydroxyapatite powders doped with Zn contents of 2, 4 and 6 mol% were synthesized by microwave-assisted hydrothermal treatment. The ZnHA nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Structural analyses conducted by Rietveld refinement indicated that Zn incorporation occurred at the Ca(II) sites of the hexagonal HA structure. However, the nominal Zn content selected did not react completely and therefore all the particles were deficient regarding the final amount of Zn in the HA structure. TEM observations confirmed that the ZnHA particles had a high crystallinity with a particle size varying between 29 and 67 nm.