Morphology-controlled synthesis of fluorapatite nano/microstructures via surfactant-assisted hydrothermal process

•FHAp crystals with controlled morphologies were achieved by double surfactants-assisted hydrothermal process.•Synthesis process was rapid and facile.•The solution pH, precursor concentration and F– content had influence on particle nucleation and growth.•The possible growth process for various FHAp structures was proposed.

Uniform-large-sized F-substituted hydroxyapatite (FHAp) crystals with controllable morphologies were successfully synthesized via hydrothermal treatment by using double-facile surfactants. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. It was found that the size and morphology of FHAp crystals were drastically influenced by pH, precursor concentration and F− content. The growth process was investigated by following time-dependent experiments. The possible growth process was also discussed.

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