Abstract
Various metal/semi metal-oxide (TiO 2, SiO x, ZrO 2 and HfO 2, 1 ≤ x ≤ 2) containing DLC thin films were deposited onto conducting silicon wafer substrates using a pulsed direct-current metal–organic plasma-activated chemical vapour deposition technique. The in vitro bioactivity of these thin films was evaluated in terms of their apatite forming ability by soaking the samples in simulated body fluid (SBF) at 37 °C. The formation of apatite as a function of time was determined using a number of characterisation techniques. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results confirmed the presence of calcium and phosphorus on the film surfaces after immersion in SBF. Fourier transform infra red and X-ray diffraction results confirmed that biomimetic carbonated apatite was formed on all these films as an amorphous material. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs showed dense growth of large homogeneous apatite particles on TiO 2–DLC film surfaces. Smaller-sized but dense growth of apatite was also observed for ZrO 2–DLC films. Relatively low growth of apatite was observed on the surfaces of SiO x–DLC and HfO 2–DLC films.
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