Functionalisation of silica–carbonate biomorphs

Abstract

Biomorphs are a unique class of self-organised silica–carbonate mineral structures with elaborate shapes. This work presents first approaches to convert these inorganic architectures into organic/inorganic hybrids through silane chemistry, while maintaining the original structural complexity. Further functionality can be added by binding of metal nanoparticles or quantum dots or via local organic polymerisation at the carbonate surfaces.

Inorganic Reactions Self‐organize Life‐like Microstructures Far from Equilibrium

“…reported experimental evidence for this oscillatory behavior. Their study used a pH sensitive fluorescent dye that revealed an oscillatory trend matching the spatial oscillations commonly seen in biomorph sheets; an earlier report by Opel et al., however, failed to detect this oscillatory behavior in pH . Montalti et al.…”

“…Lastly, we note that functional materials have been incorporated into the biomorphs through modification of the silica content either during or after growth. Such additives can cause the structure to fluoresce, thus allowing further characterizations by confocal laser scanning microscopy, or turn the surface of the biomorph into catalysts through nanoparticle attachment …”

“…Such additives can cause the structure to fluoresce, thus allowing further characterizations by confocal laser scanning microscopy, or turn the surface of the biomorph into catalysts through nanoparticle attachment. [38] Typically, biomorph growth occurs in stagnant solutions; however, applying agitation in the form of stirring or ultrasound has produced noticeable effects with preferential generation of sheets at high stirring rates (< 300 rpm of a stir bar in a Petri dish) and a decrease of double and single helices, all the while leaving the final microstructure and growth behavior virtually unchanged. [39] At very high stirring rates (> 300-500 rpm), the conventional biomorph shapes are suppressed and only unremarkable sheets form that do not show birefringence.…”

A morphogram for silica‐witherite biomorphs and its application to microfossil identification in the early earth rock record

“…Recently, it has been demonstrated that these structures can form in modern serpentinization‐derived alkaline spring waters (García‐Ruiz, Nakouzi, Kotopoulou, Tamborrino, & Steinbock, ). Once these mineral “biomorphs” are formed, the adsorption of organic molecules (either biogenic or abiogenic) on their surface and subsequent thermal alteration during metamorphism would transform them into carbonaceous microstructures that truly resemble actual microfossils (García‐Ruiz, Carnerup, Christy, Welham, & Hyde, ; Garcia‐Ruiz et al., ; Opel, Wimmer, Kellermeier, & Cölfen, ). For instance, it has been suggested by Garcia‐Ruiz et al.…”

“…Once these mineral "biomorphs" are formed, the adsorption of organic molecules (either biogenic or abiogenic) on their surface and subsequent thermal alteration during metamorphism would transform them into carbonaceous microstructures that truly resemble actual microfossils (García-Ruiz, Carnerup, Christy, Welham, & Hyde, 2002;Garcia-Ruiz et al, 2003;Opel, Wimmer, Kellermeier, & Cölfen, 2016). For instance, it has been suggested by Garcia-Ruiz et al (2003) that such a process represents a potential explanation for the controversial filamentous microfossils of the 3.5 Ga old Apex Chert, Pilbara, Western Australia (Brasier et al, 2002;Schopf, Kudryavtsev, Agresti, Wdowiak, & Czaja, 2002).…”