Biomimetic control of crystal assembly by growth in an organic hydrogel network
Calcite aggregates are mineralized in an organic poly-acrylamide hydrogel using a counter diffusion arrangement. The particles obtained show a characteristic pseudo-octahedral morphology, which is unexpected for calcite crystals. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy reveal a microstructure...
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Published in | The American mineralogist Vol. 88; no. 4; pp. 647 - 652 |
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Main Authors | , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Washington
Mineralogical Society of America
01.04.2003
Walter de Gruyter GmbH |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Calcite aggregates are mineralized in an organic poly-acrylamide hydrogel using a counter diffusion arrangement. The particles obtained show a characteristic pseudo-octahedral morphology, which is unexpected for calcite crystals. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy reveal a microstructure composed of individual highly aligned calcite crystallites. Although the aggregates consist of independent crystallites, the X-ray diffraction patterns suggest calcite single crystals. By analogy with some biominerals, the inorganic assembly is intergrown with an organic hydrogel network. A specific model is proposed for growth of the aggregate. |
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ISSN: | 0003-004X 1945-3027 |
DOI: | 10.2138/am-2003-0418 |