Effect of Fe3+ substitution on the structural modification and band structure modulated UV absorption of hydroxyapatite

The effect of Fe3+ ionic substitution in hydroxyapatite (Ca10‐xFex(PO4)6(OH)2) was studied using structural modifications, resulting in an improvement in UV absorption through a tailored optical band structure. Ca2+ of HA being larger compared to Fe3+ contributes to the shrinkage of the lattice. Undoped HA has a peak at 1085 cm−1 (ʋ3 PO43−) which is shifted to 1033 cm−1 for Fe‐HA, because of the perturbation in HA structure. An improvement of UV absorption in the entire UVA and UVB range with an increase in Fe content because of a decrease in bandgap from 5.9 eV to 2.1 eV with undoped and doped HA. Theoretically obtained band gap and optical behaviour of the systems are well correlated with the experimental findings. Moreover, the use of marine biowaste from cuttlefish bone, as the source of HA; low cost and promising UV absorption can have a potential application as UV protective sunscreen filters. Fe3+ substitution into hydroxyapatite with a facile ion‐exchange procedure resulting in the structural modification with an improvement in UV absorption. UV protection in the entire UVA and UVB range with an increase in Fe content in hydroxyapatite has a potential application as UV protective sunscreen filters.