Hybrid Biomimetic Materials from Silica/Carbonate Biomorphs

Opel, J., Unglaube, N., Wörner, M., Kellermeier, M., Cölfen, H., & García-Ruiz, J. M. (2019). Hybrid biomimetic materials from silica/carbonate biomorphs. Crystals9(3), 157.

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The formation of a polymer protection layer around fragile mineral architectures ensures that structures stay intact even after treatments that would normally destroy them going along with a total loss of textural information. Here we present a strategy to preserve the shape of silica-carbonate biomorphs with polymers. This method converts non-hybrid inorganic-inorganic composite materials such a silica/carbonate biomorphs into hybrid organic/carbonate composite materials similar to biominerals.