A rapid, green and versatile route to synthesize metal carbonate superstructures via the combination of regenerated silk fibroin and compressed CO₂

Abstract

In this work, a series of metal carbonate minerals such as BaCO 3 , SrCO 3 , MnCO 3 , PbCO 3 and CdCO 3 with uniform and well-defined morphology were synthesized via the combination of regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) and compressed CO 2 . The as-prepared samples were systemically characterized by means of TEM, SEM, XRD, TGA and FTIR. The results showed the size, morphology, and nanostructure of crystals could be well controlled by altering the RSF concentration and crystallization time. Based on the timeresolved experiments, we found a spherical BaCO 3 superstructure was formed by RSF chains induced stacking of needle-like units, following a "rod-to-dumbbell-to-twined sphere-to-sphere" morphological evolution process. In addition, both amorphous phase and a dissolution-recrystallization process of BaCO 3 were observed in crystallization. Finally, a probable crystallization mechanism for the formation of spherical BaCO 3 aggregates was proposed based on the experiments.

Morphology Control of SrCO3Crystals on the Basis of A CO2Capture Utilization and Storage Strategy

“…The clear d ‐spacings of lattice fringes with the same orientation were 3.37 Å, corresponding to the (111) faces of strontianite, which is consistent with the XRD patterns . On the other hand, the HR‐TEM images of ellipsoid‐shaped (B) crystals indicated the lattice fringes were very clear and order, and the d ‐spacings of 3.60 Å was attributed to the (111) faces of strontianite (Figure B) . The order lattice fringes also suggested the good crystalline of these ellipsoid‐shaped (B) crystals.…”

Morphology, microstructure, crystallography, and chemistry of distinct CaCO3deposits formed by early recruits of the scleractinian coralPocillopora damicornis

“…F) conceivably is the result of a spherulitic growth sequence, starting from fusiform crystals, with radiating conic bundles subsequently developing at their tips, which finally reach a nearly spherical appearance. It is noted that such growth is comparable to the formation of category 2 spherulites in polymeric‐based metal‐carbonate in vitro crystallization assays with the following structural sequence: rod → dumbbell → twined sphere → sphere (e.g., Kniep and Busch, ; Busch et al, ; Yu and Cölfen, ; Gránásy et al, ; Xu and Yu, ).…”

Liquid‐Crystalline Biomacromolecular Templates for the Formation of Oriented Thin‐Film Hybrids Composed of Ordered Chitin and Alkaline‐Earth Carbonate

“…For decades, barium‐based biominerals and their related composites have attracted much attention because of their unique morphology and good crystallinity . To understand the morphogenetic mechanisms of barium‐based biominerals, the effects of the oriented chitin matrix on the BaCO 3 crystallization through biomineralization approaches should be examined.…”