Structural And Photophysical Properties Of Hydroxyapatite Doped With Lanthanide Ions

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) matrices doped with lanthanide ions Eu3+, Ce3+ and Gd3+, [Ca(10-x)Ln(x)(PO4)(6)(OH)(2)] were obtained through the precipitation method so their photophysical properties could be studied. From the Scanning Electron Microscopy analyzes it was observed that samples doped with lanthanide ions (Ln(3+)) showed similarity with the morphology of pure HAp, whereas Rietveld-refined X-ray diffractograms showed that the matrix appears as the major phase (approximate to 70%) while (approximate to 30%) of a second phase of tricalcium phosphate (TCP) was due to the different doping levels. Adsorption isotherms obtained by the BET technique indicated that all the synthesized materials are classified as mesoporous. The emission spectra of the materials exhibit bands typical of the Ln(3+) ions incorporated into the matrix structure at 573 nm (D-5(0)-> F-0), 600 nm (D-5(0)-> F-1), 628 nm (D-5(0)-> F-2), and 698 nm (D-5(0)-> F-4) for HAp/Eu, 337-360 nm (5d -> 4f) for HAp/Ce and at 425 nm for HAp/Gd.