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Structural complexity of hexagonal prismatic crystal specimens of fluorapatite‐gelatine nanocomposites: A case study in biomimetic crystal research
Author(s) -
Kniep Rüdiger,
Simon Paul,
Rosseeva Elena
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
crystal research and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.377
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1521-4079
pISSN - 0232-1300
DOI - 10.1002/crat.201300207
Subject(s) - fluorapatite , nanocomposite , materials science , superstructure , crystal (programming language) , crystallization , crystallography , composite material , chemical engineering , mineralogy , apatite , chemistry , oceanography , computer science , engineering , programming language , geology
Hexagonal prismatic crystal‐like entities of fluorapatite‐gelatine nanocomposites were grown by double‐diffusion in gelatine gels. The Bragg pattern of the specimens (containing 2.3(3) wt.‐% gelatine) is consistent with fluorapatite. TEM images together with atomistic computer simulations reveal the material to be best described as a mosaic‐dominated nanocomposite superstructure. Intrinsic electric dipole fields (detected by electron holography), generated by a non‐classical crystallization process of composite nanoboards (elongated platelets), cause the integration of a meso/macroscopic pattern (symmetry: 6/m) of gelatine microfibrils into the superstructure matrix.