Phase Transformation Mechanism of Amorphous Calcium Phosphate to Hydroxyapatite Investigated by Liquid-Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy
Abstract
Crystallization via phase transformation of a metastable precursor is a ubiquitous and effective strategy to direct the growth of crystalline nanomaterials with remarkable functional properties. However, determining the exact process by which transformation occurs at the nanoscale is a great challenge. Here, the recrystallization process of amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) to hydroxyapatite (HAP) is explored by liquid-cell transmission electron microscopy (LC-TEM). It is found that confinement effect in liquid-cell can increase the size of ACP nanoparticles.