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Exact Replication of Biological Structures by Chemical Vapor Deposition of Silica
Author(s) -
Cook Gary,
Timms Peter L.,
GöltnerSpickermann Christine
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.200390160
Subject(s) - replica , calcination , replication (statistics) , silane , template , hydrogen peroxide , materials science , chemical vapor deposition , chemical engineering , coating , deposition (geology) , nanotechnology , chemistry , catalysis , composite material , organic chemistry , geology , biology , art , paleontology , virology , sediment , engineering , visual arts
Silica coats for butterfly wings : The oxidation of silane with hydrogen peroxide is conducted on the surface of delicately structured biological specimens (templates), to produce a thin silica coating that leaves the underlying structure unharmed. Removal of the template by calcination leaves a precise replica of the original specimen (see SEM image of a silica replica obtained from a fly wing). The method is also proposed as a novel means of conservation for sensitive archaeological specimens.