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Molecular‐Level StructureProperty Relationships in Biogenic Calcium Carbonates: The Unique Insights of Solid‐State NMR Spectroscopy
Author(s) -
Shir Ira Ben,
Kababya Shifi,
Schmidt Asher
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
israel journal of chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.908
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1869-5868
pISSN - 0021-2148
DOI - 10.1002/ijch.201300121
Subject(s) - chemistry , biomineralization , nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy , spectroscopy , solid state nuclear magnetic resonance , molecule , chemical physics , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , nuclear magnetic resonance , materials science , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
The biomineralization process produces materials with exceptional microscopic, morphologic, and mechanical qualities, which are finely tuned for specific functionality. This control of the properties is obtained through interactions with bioorganic and inorganic molecules that regulate the formation and/or become incorporated into the final biomineral. Although the interfacial regions comprise a minute fraction of the mineral, they are of paramount importance. Modern solid‐state NMR spectroscopy techniques enable to focus on these biomineral interfaces and defects, and to determine their molecular‐level structures; a task that is barely attainable by other methods. Biogenic calcium carbonates are highly abundant and extensively investigated. Currently, only a limited number of such systems have been studied by solid‐state NMR spectroscopy. Reviewing these herein, we demonstrate the power and adequacy of NMR spectroscopy to probe biogenic systems and highlight many questions that remain open and can benefit from further application of advanced NMR spectroscopy techniques.