Fabrication of biphasic calcium phosphates nanowhiskers by reflux approach

Nanowhiskers of biphasic calcium phosphates composed of monetite/hydroxyapatite were fabricated using a cost-effective reflux hydrothermal approach from calcium nitrate and ammonium hydrogen phosphate precursors in presence of urea. The produced nanowhiskers were characterized using, FT-IR-spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron micrograph (TEM) and BET surface area determination. The major phase in Biphasic was (monetite, CaHPO4.) and their grown crystals were morphologically formed with irregular sizes of well defined rod or whiskers crystal structure. The specific surface area of these fabricated nanowhiskers was found to be 8.48 m2/g according to BET studies. The N2 adsorption/desorption isotherm of the as prepared monetite calcium phosphate is of type IV indicating that this material has a mesoporous structure. The produced nanowhiskers had 80% of monetite and 20% is hydroxyapatite. By controlling the parameters of the reflux approach it is possible to manipulate the composition and the size of these produced nanowhiskers.