Use of Amorphous Calcium Carbonate for the Design of New Materials

Chempluschem. 2017 Jan;82(1):107-120. doi: 10.1002/cplu.201600457. Epub 2016 Nov 29.

Abstract

Since calcium carbonate is one of the most abundant biogenic minerals found in nature, it is no surprise that there has been a huge focus on its formation and use. In this review, we intend to cover the use of amorphous calcium carbonate, which is the most unstable polymorph of calcium carbonate, for the design of new materials. Amorphous calcium carbonate has been used to manipulate the morphology of new materials, and to create strong inorganic/organic hybrid materials based on biological examples. The exoskeletons of crustaceans, sea shell nacre, and brittle star eyes are a few of the examples discussed here, and researchers have looked at these biominerals for the design of new materials. By using polymer additives and organic synthetic layers to substitute for the natural proteins used in biological systems, interesting hybrid materials have been developed. By taking inspiration from this research, new ideas for the design of the fusion materials can be achieved.

Keywords: amorphous materials; biomaterials; calcium carbonate; materials science; organic-inorganic hybrid composites.

Publication types

  • Review