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Acceleration of Calcite Kinetics by Abalone Nacre Proteins
Author(s) -
Fu G.,
Qiu S. R.,
Orme C. A.,
Morse D. E.,
De Yoreo J. J.
Publication year - 2005
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/adma.200500633
Subject(s) - calcite , kinetics , biomineralization , materials science , abalone , crystal (programming language) , protein crystallization , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , biophysics , crystallography , mineralogy , biology , chemistry , computer science , physics , engineering , quantum mechanics , fishery , programming language , crystallization
Abalone shell nacre proteins act as surfactants to promote ion attachment at calcite steps, causing acceleration of the molecular‐scale kinetics of calcite crystal growth. The proteins modify the shape of growing calcite (see Figure) through step‐specific interactions, even though the proteins are larger than the atomic‐scale steps. Understanding of crystal‐growth control by interactions with proteins may give better control of new crystalline materials.