Crystallization of Calcite Spherules around Designer Nuclei

Abstract

Gold colloids modified with p-sulfanylphenol self-assembled monolayers provide novel nanoscopic seeds for the nucleation of calcium and strontium carbonate from aqueous solution. The morphologies of the crystalline precipitates are very different from what can normally be obtained through templated crystallization on flat surfaces.

DNA-mediated morphosynthesis of calcium carbonate particles

“…Moreover, organized reaction fields such as pseudovesicular double emulsions [33], biocontinuous microemulsions [34], and emulsion foams [35] have also been used as templates for the complicated morphogenesis of CaCO 3 (vaterite or aragonite) hollow spheres with various surface patterns. Interestingly, SAM-coated gold colloids were used as curved templates, or nuclei, for the crystallization of calcium carbonate spherules [36,37]. However, the exact mechanism of the interaction of organic templates or additives to calcium ions and calcium carbonate is still unclear and further understanding of the details of the molecule recognition happened on the interface and the control that biomolecules cast on the morphology and polymorphs are needed.…”

The onset of spherulitic growth in crystallization of calcium carbonate

“…One of these studies was undertaken by Tracy et al [39,40] who produced spherulites of calcite in the presence of magnesium and sulphate ions. Also Küther et al [45] produced artificial calcite spherulites, however, by crystallizing around 5 nm thiol-coated gold colloids. Further procedures of how to produce spherulitic calcite particles are given in Ref.…”

Calcium Carbonate–Organic Hybrid Materials

“…They also used gold colloids instead of the flat gold surface as templates for CaCO 3 crystallization. [81] Crystallite assemblies of calcite were formed around the gold colloids coated with p-sulfanylphenol SAMs.…”