title: Synthetic nacre by predesigned matrix-directed mineralization.
abstract: Although biomimetic designs are expected to play a key role in exploring future structural materials, facile fabrication of bulk biomimetic materials under ambient conditions remains a major challenge. Here, we describe a mesoscale "assembly-and-mineralization" approach inspired by the natural process in mollusks to fabricate bulk synthetic nacre that highly resembles both the chemical composition and the hierarchical structure of natural nacre. The millimeter-thick synthetic nacre consists of alternating organic layers and aragonite platelet layers (91 weight percent) and exhibits good ultimate strength and fracture toughness. This predesigned matrix-directed mineralization method represents a rational strategy for the preparation of robust composite materials with hierarchically ordered structures, where various constituents are adaptable, including brittle and heat-labile materials.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.|Chinese Academy of Sciences, Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Hefei Science Center, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.
authors.forename: Li-Bo
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.|Chinese Academy of Sciences, Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Hefei Science Center, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.
authors.forename: Huai-Ling
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.|Chinese Academy of Sciences, Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Hefei Science Center, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Bin
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.|Chinese Academy of Sciences, Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Hefei Science Center, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.|University of Konstanz, Physical Chemistry, Universitätsstraße 10, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: University of Konstanz, Physical Chemistry, Universitätsstraße 10, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany.
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cölfen
authors.affiliation: National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230029, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.|Chinese Academy of Sciences, Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Hefei Science Center, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.
authors.forename: Si-Ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.|Chinese Academy of Sciences, Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Hefei Science Center, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.
authors.forename: Shi-Kuo
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.|Chinese Academy of Sciences, Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Hefei Science Center, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.
authors.forename: You-Xian
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.|Chinese Academy of Sciences, Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Hefei Science Center, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.
authors.forename: Yang-Yi
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China. shyu@ustc.edu.cn.|Chinese Academy of Sciences, Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Hefei Science Center, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.|National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230029, China.
authors.forename: Shu-Hong
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D032701:Biomimetics / Q000379:methods*; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008974:Mollusca; D060734:Nacre / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D060734:Nacre; D002119:Calcium Carbonate