Synthesis and characterization of cerium-based hydroxyapatites doped with samarium

In this study, cerium (Ce) based samarium (Sm) doped hydroxyapatite (HAp) samples were prepared via the wet chemical method and they were characterized experimentally. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis results showed that each sample has the HAp phase without any impurity phase. It was determined that an increase in Sm amount affected the parameters related to the crystal structure. It was observed that the crystallite size increased with the increase in Sm amount. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra analyses supported the formation of the HAp phase for each sample. From differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results taken in the temperature range of 25–800 °C, it was seen that the samples were thermally stable in this temperature range, and it occurred a negligible mass loss for each sample. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) investigations showed that Sm-doping has not got any significant effect on the morphology. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses supported the doping procedure is successful. In addition to these, the theoretical results showed that the bandgap energy decreased with an increasing amount of Sm.