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Probing Material Formation in the Presence of Organic and Biological Molecules
Author(s) -
McGrath K. M.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/1521-4095(200107)13:12/13<989::aid-adma989>3.0.co;2-g
Subject(s) - biomineralization , microporous material , materials science , calcium carbonate , mineralization (soil science) , molecule , crystal growth , chemical engineering , organic molecules , biomolecule , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , crystallography , chemistry , nitrogen , engineering , composite material
Mineralization in living organisms generates structures different from abiotic crystal growth. Mimicking biomineralization in vitro may become a way of synthesizing inorganic materials with useful microstructures. For example, the growth of calcium carbonate crystals in the presence of certain sea urchin proteins gives rise to microporous crystal lattices. Addition of organic chemicals, e.g., hexanol, modifies the structure and yields defect patterns.