Electrodeposition of carbonate-containing hydroxyapatite on carbon nanotubes/carbon fibers hybrid materials for tissue engineering application

Abstract Carbon nanotubes/carbon fibers hybrid materials (CCF) were used as templates to deposit carbonate-containing hydroxyapatite (CHA) by ultrasound-assisted electrodeposition method. The morphology and microstructure of CCF and CHA on CCF were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Transmission electron microscopy, Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed that the CCF was composed of carbon fibers and in situ grown carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes were grown along the radial direction of the carbon fibers with a straight morphology and exhibited a loose structure. The CHA enwrapped the in situ grown carbon nanotubes of CCF, then infiltrated into the loose structures of the carbon nanotubes and finally covered the CCF entirely with a particle shape. By thermogravimetric analysis, the CHA on CCF displayed more deposition weight than that on carbon fibers without carbon nanotubes.