Effect of conventional and microwave heating on the structural and physicochemical properties of silver-doped hydroxyapatite nanopowders

This paper discussed the influence of duration and modes of heating on structural and physicochemical properties of silver-doped hydroxyapatite (Ag-HAP) nanopowders (NPs). Conventional electric furnace and microwave (MW) heating modes were employed during the synthesis. MW mode of synthesis was relatively an efficient method as it prepared monolithic HAP NP in just one minute of heating. With the increase in duration of heating in both modes of heating; lattice parameters, crystal size, lattice strain, Ca/P ratio, and degree of crystallinity of HAP phase increased. The morphology of particles was rod-shaped having aspect ratio between 2 and 3. EDX confirmed the presence of Ag and corroborated the formation of apatite. The hydrodynamic diameter of Ag-HAP NPs was significantly bigger than the particle sizes calculated using XRD, FESEM, and TEM. Thus, an overall examination concluded MW as an efficient mode of synthesis, able to produce Ag-HAP NPs in a possible minimum time.