Two-dimensional silica sieve plates mimicking the diatom valve

Chemistry. 2013 Jun 17;19(25):8073-7. doi: 10.1002/chem.201300722. Epub 2013 May 6.

Abstract

Sieve and take: A biomimetic strategy was designed to fabricate two-dimensional silica sieve plates (SSP) by use of catanionic surfactants as composite template and L-tartrate with hydroxyl and carboxyl groups as regulator. Tartrate was found to combine two capabilities in the formation of SSP structures: the connection of adjacent silica structures through H bonding and the separation of adjacent structures through electrostatic repulsion.