Nanocomposites Produced by Growth of Hydroxyapatite onto Silica Particles Prepared by the Sol-Gel Method

Abstract

The growth of hydroxyapatite, a calcium phosphate, on silica particles prepared by the sol-gel method is reported. The size of the silica sols was controlled by changing the pH of water before the mixing with the alcoxide. Particle size profiles of sols were obtained by using dynamical light scattering. The characterisation of the composites, of nanometer sizes, was performed by employing X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy.