Calcite Crystals with Platonic Shapes and Minimal Surfaces

Abstract

A Platonic relationship: Calcite single and mesocrystals with two platonic shapes and minimal surfaces are formed by a unified polymer-controlled nanoparticle aggregation. The shapes of the crystals (see picture for example) are tuned by the reactant concentration. The morphogenesis follows a nonclassical mechanism. A rhombohedral primitive minimal surface was observed for the first time in a synthetic crystallization of micrometer-sized particles. Detailed facts of importance to specialist readers are published as ”Supporting Information”. Such documents are peer-reviewed, but not copy-edited or typeset. They are made available as submitted by the authors. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.