Orientation-Selective Alignments of Hydroxyapatite Nanoblocks through Epitaxial Attachment in a and c Directions

Nanometric rods of hydroxyapatite (HA) were aligned in selective crystallographic directions by the alternation of adsorbing molecules. The side and end faces of HA nanorods elongated in the c direction were covered with oleic acid (OA) and tetraoctylammonium (TOA) ions, respectively. Alignment in the c direction of the OA-modified nanorods was produced through epitaxial attachment of the bare end faces in toluene because the side faces were hydrophobized with the negatively charged modifier. Another alignment - in the a direction of the TOA-modified HA nanorods - was obtained through the epitaxial attachment of the bare side faces in ethanol due to stabilization of the end faces with the positively charged modifier. Controlled alignments of the nanorods in the a and c directions were achieved through oriented attachment with the selective coverage of the c and a faces with the specific modifiers.