The Role of Si Substitution into Hydroxyapatite Coatings

Abstract

Silicon substituted Hydroxyapatite coatings were prepared by Pulsed Laser Deposition from targets made of mixtures of Hydroxyapatite with Si powder at different concentrations. The properties of the Si-HA coatings with several degrees of Si substitution were analyzed by different techniques such as FTIR, XRD, XPS and solid-state NMR. It was found that the Si incorporation causes an amorphization of the structure together with a loss of carbonate groups. Furthermore, the Si atoms are incorporated in the form of SiO4 4- groups, and H(PO4)2- appears as the predominant phosphate group.