Synthesis of Stable Aragonite Superstructures by a Biomimetic Crystallization Pathway

Abstract

Selective nucleation of aragonite can be achieved at ambient conditions in water by using block copolymer microgels at a very low concentration (0.1 ppm). One polymer template particle is sufficient to control the nucleation of a ring of aragonite single crystals, which propagate into a sheaf structure (see SEM image). Each aragonite crystal is protected by an outer amorphous layer that results in prolonged stability of the aragonite.