title: In situ techniques in biomimetic mineralization studies of calcium carbonate.
abstract: The often astonishing material properties of crystalline biominerals are generally related to the hierarchical assembly of specifically interacting organic and inorganic components. To synthesize new materials with similar advanced properties applying nature's biomimeralization strategies we need to unravel the mechanisms of biologically and biomimetically controlled mineral formation. Since the literature is extensive this tutorial review is focussed on CaCO(3), the most abundant biomineral. We will first review the different approaches to biomimetic mineralization and describe the most recent advancements in the field. Subsequently the importance of in situ and time-resolved experiments, with their possibilities and limitations, is discussed with selected references.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Materials and Interface Chemistry and Soft-matter cryoTEM Research Unit, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Archan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dey
authors.forename: Gijbertus
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de With
authors.forename: Nico A J M
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Sommerdijk
mesh_terms: D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry; D008853:Microscopy; D056928:X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels; D002119:Calcium Carbonate