Preparation of ultrahigh-aspect-ratio hydroxyapatite nanofibers in reverse micelles under hydrothermal conditions

The preparation of ultrahigh-aspect-ratio hydroxyapatite nanofibers in reverse micelles under hydrothermal conditions was discussed. It was shown that after Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂ nucleation in cetyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide (CTAB) reverse micelles, the surfactant headgroups preferentially adsorb on surface planes parallel to the c axes of the nuclei, resulting in the formation of the growth of anisometric particles. The nanofiber product was investigated using FTIR spectroscopy. A representative scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image of hydroxyapatite nanofibers showed that nanofibers were deposited in the form of bundles of tightly aggregated fibers with highly uniform widhts and straight edges.