We report herein a dynamic facet-selective capping (dFSC) strategy for α-calcium sulfate hemihydrate crystal growth from dihydrate gypsum in the presence of a catechol-derived PEI capping agent (DPA-PEI) with inspiration by the biomineralization process of mussel. The crystal shape is controllable and varies from long and pyramid-tipped prisms to thin hexagonal plate. The highly uniform truncated crystals have extremely high compression and bending strengths after hydration molding.
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