title: Structural Perceptions and Mechanical Evaluation of β-Ca3(PO4)2/c-CeO2Composites with Preferential Occupancy of Ce3+and Ce4.
abstract: The role of cerium in the formation of stable β-Ca3(PO4)2/c-CeO2composites and their structural analysis with varied compositional ratios were investigated. The composite formation was attempted through an in situ precipitation technique, and the gradual structural changes during heat treatments to yield the pure form of β-Ca3(PO4)2/c-CeO2composites was presented. The cerium was found in Ce3+and Ce4+oxidation states in composites. Ce3+prefers to occupy the Ca2+(1), Ca2+(2), and Ca2+(3) sites of β-Ca3(PO4)2, whereas, beyond the saturation occupancy limit, excess cerium prefers to crystallize in the form of thermodynamically stable cubic ceria (c-CeO2). A uniform expansion of the β-Ca3(PO4)2unit cell and the delayed allotropic conversion of β-Ca3(PO4)2→ α-Ca3(PO4)2have been detected due to the Ce3+occupancy at the β-Ca3(PO4)2lattice. β-Ca3(PO4)2/c-CeO2composites exhibited a steady upsurge in the mechanical properties with consistent enhancement of c-CeO2content in the composites. The overall results from the investigation imply the appropriateness of the β-Ca3(PO4)2/c-CeO2composites for applications in hard tissue replacements.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Nanoscience and Technology, Pondicherry University , Puducherry-605 014, India.
authors.forename: Ponnusamy
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5739-0562
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nandha Kumar
authors.affiliation: Centre for Nanoscience and Technology, Pondicherry University , Puducherry-605 014, India.
authors.forename: Sandeep Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.affiliation: Centre for Nanoscience and Technology, Pondicherry University , Puducherry-605 014, India.
authors.forename: Sanjeevi
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2285-4907
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kannan