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Gal, Assaf; Wirth, Richard; Barkay, Zahava; Eliaz, Noam; Scheffel, André; Faivre, Damien
07/2017, Letnik: 53, Številka: 55Journal Article
The formation of intricately shaped crystalline minerals by organisms is orchestrated by specialized biomacromolecules. The macromolecules associated with coccoliths, nanometer-sized calcite crystal arrays produced by marine microalgae, can form a distinct calcium-rich phase via macromolecular recognition. Here, we show that this calcium-rich phase can be mineralized into a thin film of single-crystalline calcite by the balanced addition of carbonate ions. Such a crystallization process provides a strategy to direct crystalline products via local interactions between soluble macromolecules and compatible templates. Soluble macromolecules and insoluble organic templates of biological origin facilitate a two-step crystallization process that results in thin, single-crystalline films of calcite.
