title: The SEM and TEM study on the laminated structure of individual aragonitic nacre tablet in freshwater bivalve H. cumingii Lea shell.
abstract: Nacre (mother-of-pearl), one of the natural composite materials, is renowned for its excellent mechanical properties and becomes a model for study on the biominerals. In the present study on bivalve H. cumingii Lea, the forming nacre tablet was observed with SEM to show laminated character on the lateral growing surfaces. Correspondingly, HRTEM showed dense crystal defects on (001) plane of the aragonite nacre tablet which might be caused by the adsorption of organic macromolecules on the plane. The correlation of the laminated growth mode and crystal defects on (001) plane was discussed. These findings could enhance our understanding to the formation mechanism of the nacre tablet as well as the superior mechanical properties of the nacre.
authors.affiliation: Department of Material Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Xiao-Xiang
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
chemical_list: D002119:Calcium Carbonate