Synthesis and characterization of Pr-based Ag or Zn-dopedhydroxyapatites

Within the scope of the thesis, hydroxyapatite (HA) structures with five different compositions (0.4Pr-HA, 0.4Zn-0.4Pr-HA, 0.8Zn-0.4Pr-HA, 0.4Ag-0.4Pr-HA and 0.8Ag-0.4Pr-HA) doped with praseodymium (Pr), zinc (Zn) and silver (Ag) were synthesized. The effects of the type and amount of additives in the synthesized structures on parameters such as electronic structure, microstructure, spectral, chemical, thermal, surface morphology and cytotoxicity in Pr-based HA samples were examined comprehensively. Density of States (DOS) and band structure calculations of the synthesized structures were systematically investigated. Calculated bandgap values ranging from 4.4037 to 4.1554 eV revealed a progressive decrease in bandgap energy from 0.4Pr-HA to 0.8Ag-0.4Pr-HA and this decrease highlighted the significant influence of dopant composition on electronic properties. Additionally, the inclusion of Pr created distinct bands and peaks in DOS. This result highlighted the emergence of specific energy levels associated with Pr and a clear effect on the electronic structure. The theoretical results obtained showed a continuous decrease in the band gap with the addition of Ag or Zn dopants. Additionally, it was observed that the type and amount of auxiliary additives caused controllable changes in the Linear Attenuation Coefficient (LAC) values. XRD, SEM/EDX, FTIR, and Raman results confirmed the formation of HA structures. Thermal analysis results indicated that all samples are thermally stable. Cytotoxicity test results demonstrated that all obtained structures are biocompatible and non-toxic. The thesis is promising for many applications in the field of electronic devices and biocompatible coatings.