Asymmetric Crystal Morphology of Apatite Induced by the Chirality of Dicarboxylate Additives

Abstract

Apatite crystallites with asymmetric morphology are successfully prepared by using the l - or d -form of glutamic acid and aspartic acid as crystal modifiers. Our results suggest that the chirality of the additives plays an important role in the asymmetric crystal growth. Imperfect oriented attachment and the stereospecific interaction between the additives and the crystal surface steps are used to rationalize the observed morphologies of the apatite crystallites.