Diatom cells grown and baked on a functionalized mica surface.
We demonstrate the cultivation of diatom cells on a functionalized mica surface and the preparation of frustules on a mica surface by baking. Diatom cells were successfully grown on a mica surface treated with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. After baking at 400 degrees C for 2 h, frustule structures without the organic components of the diatom cells were successfully observed by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Furthermore, the frustules deformed and became slender when a sample was baked at 800 degrees C for 2 h. Our method is effective for the direct characterization of frustule structures and physical properties without changing the configuration of the diatom cells grown on the mica surface.
Umemura
Kazuo
K
Musashi Institute of Technology, Setagaya, Tokyo 158-8557, Japan. kumemura@sc.musashi-tech.ac.jp
Noguchi
Yusuke
Y
Ichinose
Takuya
T
Hirose
Yo
Y
Kuroda
Reiko
R
Mayama
Shigeki
S