Architectures of strontium hydroxyapatite microspheres: solvothermal synthesis and luminescence properties

Strontium hydroxyapatite (Sr(5)(PO(4))(3)OH, SrHAp) microspheres with 3D architectures have been successfully prepared through a efficient and facile solvothermal process. The experimental results indicate that the SrHAP microspheres are composed of a large amount of nanosheets, which are assembled in a radial form from the center to the surface of the microspheres. The as-obtained SrHAp samples show an intense and bright blue emission from 350 to 570 nm centered at 427 nm (CIE coordinates: x = 0.153, y = 0.081; lifetime: 9.2 ns; quantum efficiency: 31%) under long-wavelength UV light excitation (344 nm). This blue emission might result from the CO(2)(*-) radical impurities in the crystal lattice. Furthermore, the surfactants CTAB and trisodium citrate have an obvious impact on the morphologies and the luminescence properties of the products, respectively. The possible formation and luminescent mechanisms for Sr(5)(PO(4))(3)OH microspheres have been presented in detail.