Simulation of organic monolayers as templates for the nucleation of calcite crystals.
Living organisms can control the size, shape, and structure of minerals. Attempts to reproduce this biological control in the laboratory often use Langmuir monolayers of long-chain carboxylic acids. We use large-scale molecular dynamics simulations to calculate the interfacial energies of calcite crystals grown on stearic (octadecanoic) acid monolayers. In light of these simulations we discuss the argument that the orientation of the growing mineral is controlled by the organic substrate acting as a template which the mineral must fit in order to grow.
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, U.K.
Dorothy M
DM
Duffy
John H
JH
Harding
D000327:Adsorption; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry*; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003460:Crystallization; D003461:Crystallography; D008903:Minerals / Q000737:chemistry*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry*; D013228:Stearates / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D013816:Thermodynamics
D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D008903:Minerals; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D013228:Stearates; C029473:octadecyl stearate; D002119:Calcium Carbonate