Abstract The organization of nanostructures across extended length scales is a key challenge in the design integrated materials with advanced functions. Current approaches tend to be based on physical methods, such as patterning, rather than spontaneous chemical assembly and transformation building blocks multiple scales. It should possible develop chemistry organized matter emergent processes which time‐ scale‐dependent coupling interactive components generate higher‐order architectures...

Controlled self-organization of nanoparticles can lead to new materials. The colloidal crystallization non-spherical nanocrystals is a reaction channel in many reactions. With additives, be stopped at an intermediary step-a mesocrystal-in which the primary units still identified. Mesocrystals were observed for various systems as kinetically metastable species or intermediates leading single crystals with typical defects and inclusions. control forces mechanism mesocrystal formation are...

Calcium carbonate forms scales, geological deposits, biominerals, and ocean sediments. Huge amounts of carbon dioxide are retained as ions, calcium ions represent a major contribution to water hardness. Despite its relevance, little is known about the precipitation mechanism carbonate, specified complex crystal structures challenge classical view on nucleation considering formation metastable ion clusters. We demonstrate that dissolved in fact contains stable prenucleation clusters forming...

Although biomimetic designs are expected to play a key role in exploring future structural materials, facile fabrication of bulk materials under ambient conditions remains major challenge. Here, we describe mesoscale "assembly-and-mineralization" approach inspired by the natural process mollusks fabricate synthetic nacre that highly resembles both chemical composition and hierarchical structure nacre. The millimeter-thick consists alternating organic layers aragonite platelet (91 weight...

Biomimetic mineralization is a powerful approach for the synthesis of advanced materials with complex shape, hierarchical organization and controlled size, shape polymorph under ambient conditions in aqueous environments. Increased understanding biomineralization mechanisms has greatly enhanced possibilities biomimetic approaches. This overview tries to capture concepts recent progress this rapidly developing field.

Double-hydrophilic block copolymers are a new class of amphiphilic molecules rapidly increasing importance with unique and fascinating properties potentially connecting materials science, pharmacy, biochemistry polymer science. Characteristic these polymers is their application in aqueous environments that amphiphilicity just induced the presence substrate or by temperature pH changes, respectively. Their chemical structure may be tuned for wide range applications covering as different...

In this paper, a systematic study of the influence various experimental parameters on morphology and size CaCO3 crystals after room-temperature crystallization from water in presence poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(methacrylic acid) (PEG-b-PMAA) is presented. The pH solution, block copolymer concentration, ratio [polymer]/[CaCO3] turned out to be important for morphogenesis CaCO3, whereas moderate increase ionic strength (0.016 M) had no influence. Depending conditions, crystal morphologies...

Small block copolymers, consisting of a hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) and second moiety which strongly interacts with alkaline earth ions, were employed to template the precipitation calcium carbonate from aqueous solution. Depending on type polymeric functionalization pattern used, it was possible grow two three different crystal modifications CaCO3 (vaterite calcite) under similar conditions. Vaterite could be successfully stabilized for more than 1 year by polymer conditions where...

The latest advances in hydrophilic polymer controlled morphosynthesis and bio-inspired mineralization of various technically important inorganic crystals are reviewed with a focus on how to generate unusual structural specialty complexity by double block copolymers (DHBCs). systematic morphogenesis different minerals morphology novel superstructures using DHBCs varying patterns functional groups will be described influence parameters such as crystallization sites, temperature, concentrations...

Crystallization of calcite from differently concentrated calcium chloride solutions by the CO2 gas diffusion technique in presence polystyrene sulfonate yields crystal superstructures with unusual morphology. From typical rhombohedra as a starting situation, morphology can be systematically varied via rounded edges and truncated triangles to finally concavely bended lens-like superstructures. Although these "crystals" are apparently well-faceted light microscopy, electron microscopy analysis...

Various methods have been exploited to replicate nacre features into artificial structural materials with impressive and mechanical similarity. However, it is still very challenging produce nacre-mimetics in three-dimensional bulk form, especially for further scale-up. Herein, we demonstrate that large-sized, comprehensive mimicry of the hierarchical structures toughening mechanisms natural can be facilely fabricated via a bottom-up assembly process based on laminating pre-fabricated...

We reveal that the aragonite CaCO3 platelets in nacre of Haliotis laevigata are covered with a continuous layer disordered amorphous and there is no protein interaction this layer. This finding contradicts classical paradigms biomineralization, e.g., an epitaxial match between structural organic matrix formed mineral. also highlights role physicochemical effects morphogenesis, complementing previously assumed total control by biomolecules bioprocesses, many implications nanotechnology...

Abstract Vaterite mesocrystals with hexagonal morphology and uniform size have been successfully synthesized in the presence of a N ‐trimethylammonium derivative hydroxyethyl cellulose via aggregation‐mediated crystallization using simple gas‐diffusion method. The plates display sharp facets edges, even though they are formed by aggregation nanocrystals. results demonstrate that each vaterite plate can be explained as consisting aggregates nanoparticles share same three‐dimensional...

Structuring over many length scales is a design strategy widely used in Nature to create materials with unique functional properties. We here present comprehensive analysis of an adult sea urchin spine, and revealing complex, hierarchical structure, show how fabricates material which diffracts as single crystal calcite yet fractures glassy material. Each spine comprises highly oriented array Mg-calcite nanocrystals amorphous regions macromolecules are embedded. It postulated that this...

To date, the knowledge of multiple roles additives in calcium carbonate crystallization results from empirical control crystal growth. We present a assay generating controlled supersaturation, which allows categorization different modes additive action. This facilitates novel understanding action additives. Detailed facts importance to specialist readers are published as "Supporting Information". Such documents peer-reviewed, but not copy-edited or typeset. They made available submitted by...

Abstract Given increasing environmental issues due to the large usage of non‐biodegradable plastics based on petroleum, new plastic materials, which are economic, environmentally friendly, and recyclable in high demand. One feasible strategy is bio‐inspired synthesis mineral‐based hybrid materials. Herein we report a facile route for an amorphous CaCO 3 (ACC)‐based hydrogel consisting very small ACC nanoparticles physically cross‐linked by poly(acrylic acid). The shapeable, stretchable,...

Nonclassical crystallization (NCC) summarizes a number of pathways, which differ from the classical layer-by-layer growth crystals involving atomic/molecular building units. Common to NCC is that units are larger and include nanoparticles, clusters, or liquid droplets, providing multiple handles for their control at each elementary step. Therefore, many different pathways toward final single possible can be influenced by appropriate experimental parameters additives step crystal growth....