The development of morphology and structure in hexagonal vaterite.
Inspired by the remarkable shapes and properties of CaCO(3) biominerals, many studies have investigated biomimetic routes aiming at synthetic equivalents with similar morphological and structural complexity. Control over the morphology of CaCO(3) crystals has been demonstrated, among other methods, by the use of additives that selectively allow the development of specific crystal faces, while inhibiting others. Both for biogenic and biomimetic CaCO(3), the crystalline state is often preceded by an amorphous precursor phase, but still limited information is available on the details of the amorphous-to-crystalline transition. By using a combination of cryoTEM techniques (bright field imaging, cryo-tomography, low dose electron diffraction and cryo-darkfield imaging), we show for the first time the details of this transition during the formation of hexagonal vaterite crystals grown in the presence of NH(4)(+) ions. The formation of hexagonal plate-like vaterite occurs via an amorphous precursor phase. This amorphous phase converts into the crystalline state through a solid state transformation in which order and morphology develop simultaneously. The mineral initially develops as polycrystalline vaterite which transforms into a single crystal directed by an NH(4)(+)-induced crystal plane that acts as a templating surface.
Pouget
Emilie M
EM
Laboratory of Materials and Interface Chemistry and Soft Matter CryoTEM Research Unit, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
Bomans
Paul H H
PH
Dey
Archan
A
Frederik
Peter M
PM
de With
Gijsbertus
G
Sommerdijk
Nico A J M
NA
D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010316:Particle Size; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D007477:Ions; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D002119:Calcium Carbonate