Morphosynthesis of Nacre-Type Laminated CaCO_3 Thin Films and Coatings

摘要

CaCO3 is one of the most abundant biogenic minerals. Biological organisms utilize mainly the thermodynamically most stable crystal polymorphs of CaCO_3, that is, calcite or aragonite, for the construction of protective shells and casings.[1] Among the many intricate shapes and architectures of naturally occurring biominerals, the structure and properties of nacre (mother-of-pearl), the iridescent inner layer of mollusc shells, has had a special attraction for scientists. Nacre consists of stacked layers of tabular aragonite crystals that are interspersed with a thin organic matrix.