title: Atomic force microscopic study of the surface morphology of apatite films deposited by pulsed laser ablation.
abstract: Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been used to study the surface morphology of apatite films deposited on metallic and polyethylene substrates by laser ablation using KrF and transversely excited atmospheric CO2 lasers. The films are found to consist of a smooth apatite coating with macroparticles scattered on the surface. A wide variety of macroparticles, differing in size, shape and roughness, were found and analysed employing the high spatial resolution of AFM (< 1 nm). We have investigated the correlation between the apatite film morphology and the deposition conditions. Of particular importance are laser fluence, gas pressure, the nature of the target and the substrate temperature. We have explained these dependencies on the basis of a theoretical model which includes evaporation and a cluster-type laser ablation mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Technological Lasers, Russian Academy of Sciences, Troitsk.
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Antonov
authors.forename: V N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Bagratashvili
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Popov
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Sobol
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Tendler
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Howdle
mesh_terms: D001031:Apatites / Q000737:chemistry*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D005459:Fluorides; D007726:Krypton; D007834:Lasers; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000737:chemistry; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001031:Apatites; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011095:Polyethylenes; C047729:krypton fluoride; D007726:Krypton; D014025:Titanium; D005459:Fluorides