Formation and Structure of Calcium Carbonate Thin Films and Nanofibers Precipitated in the Presence of Poly(Allylamine Hydrochloride) and Magnesium Ions.
That the cationic polyelectrolyte poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) exerts a significant influence on CaCO3precipitation challenges the idea that only anionic additives have this effect. Here, we show that in common with anionic polyelectrolytes such as poly(aspartic acid), PAH supports the growth of calcite thin films and abundant nanofibers. While investigating the formation of these structures, we also perform the first detailed structural analysis of the nanofibers by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction. The nanofibers are shown to be principally single crystal, with isolated domains of polycrystallinity, and the single crystal structure is even preserved in regions where the nanofibers dramatically change direction. The formation mechanism of the fibers, which are often hundreds of micrometers long, has been the subject of intense speculation. Our results suggest that they form by aggregation of amorphous particles, which are incorporated into the fibers uniquely at their tips, before crystallizing. Extrusion of polymer during crystallization may inhibit particle addition at the fiber walls and result in local variations in the fiber nanostructure. Finally, we investigate the influence of Mg2+on CaCO3precipitation in the presence of PAH, which gives thinner and smoother films, together with fibers with more polycrystalline, granular structures.
School of Chemistry, University of Leeds , Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom.
Bram
B
Cantaert
Department of Physics, University of York , Heslington, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom.
Andreas
A
Verch
School of Chemistry, University of Leeds , Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom.
Yi-Yeoun
YY
Kim
School of Chemistry, University of Leeds , Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom.
Henning
H
Ludwig
Surfactant & Colloid Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Hull , Hull HU6 7RX, United Kingdom.
Vesselin N
VN
Paunov
Department of Physics, University of York , Heslington, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom.
Roland
R
Kröger
School of Chemistry, University of Leeds , Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom.
Fiona C
FC
Meldrum
PILP; TEM; bioinspired; calcite; crystallization; nanowire