title: Template-directed control of crystal morphologies.
abstract: Biominerals are characterised by unique morphologies, and it is a long-term synthetic goal to reproduce these synthetically. We here apply a range of templating routes to investigate whether a fascinating category of biominerals, the single crystals with complex forms, can be produced using simple synthetic methods. Macroporous crystals with sponge-like morphologies identical to that of sea urchin skeletal plates were produced on templating with a sponge-like polymer membrane. Similarly, patterning of individual crystal faces was achieved from the micrometer to nanometer scale through crystallisation on colloidal particle monolayers and patterned polymer thin films. These experiments demonstrate the versatility of a templating approach to producing single crystals with unique morphologies.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK. Fiona.Meldrum@bristol.ac.uk
authors.forename: Fiona C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Meldrum
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ludwigs
mesh_terms: D032701:Biomimetics / Q000379:methods*; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry; D002616:Chemical Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D008903:Minerals / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals; D002119:Calcium Carbonate