Core/shell structures on argon ions implanted polymer based zinc ions incorporated HAp nanocomposite coatings

• Published in: Materials science in semiconductor processing Vol. 104; p. 104687
• Main Authors: Karthikeyan, K.R., Arul, K. Thanigai, Ramya, J. Ramana, Nabhiraj, P.Y., Menon, R., Krishna, J.B.M., Kalkura, S. Narayana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2019
• Subjects: Blue emission biomedical; Core/shell; Implantation; Microwave processing; Implantation; Core/shell; Blue emission biomedical; Microwave processing
• ISSN: 1369-8001; 1873-4081
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mssp.2019.104687

Polymer-based zinc ions incorporated HAp nanocomposite coatings (ZHAp) on titanium substrate are synthesized by wet-chemical route and assisted by microwave irradiation. The surface of the nanocomposite coatings was modified by low energy (90 keV) argon (Ar9+) ions with various fluences 1 × 1014, 1 × 1015 and 1 × 1016 ions/cm2. A significant reduction in crystallite size (19%) was observed at the lower fluence (1 × 1014 ions/cm2). The chemical bonding of the polymer/ZHAp was confirmed by FTIR. At the higher fluence, core/shell morphology (ZHAp/PVA) was observed whereas, at the lower fluence, plates-like structures were noticed. In the pristine, agglomerated core/shell with plates-like morphology was observed. The photoluminescence intensity was enhanced at the lower fluence with blue emission. The band gap (18%) and in vitro bioactivity were improved at the lower fluence and drops with an increase in ion fluences. The contact angle was decreased by 38 % at the lower fluence compared to the pristine (hydrophobic surface). Implantation tailors the contact angle from hydrophilic to hydrophobic due to the variation of chemical bonding, surface morphology and surface charge/energy as a function of ion fluence. Therefore, the overall results demonstrate that the surface engineered PZHAp nanocomposite coatings could be a potential candidate for novel biomedical and new optoelectronic devices.