Synthetic nacre by predesigned matrix-directed mineralization

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 354; no. 6308; pp. 107 - 110
• Main Authors: Mao, Li-Bo, Gao, Huai-Ling, Yao, Hong-Bin, Liu, Lei, Cölfen, Helmut, Liu, Gang, Chen, Si-Ming, Li, Shi-Kuo, Yan, You-Xian, Liu, Yang-Yi, Yu, Shu-Hong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Association for the Advancement of Science 07-10-2016; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Animals; Aragonite; Bicarbonates; Biomimetic materials; Biomimetic Materials - chemical synthesis; Biomimetic Materials - chemistry; Biomimetics - methods; Brittleness; Calcification, Physiologic; Calcium Carbonate - chemistry; Chemical synthesis; Chitosan; Hot Temperature; Manufacturing; Matrix; Mineralization; Mollusca; Nacre; Nacre - chemical synthesis; Nacre - chemistry; Ultimate tensile strength
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.aaf8991

Although biomimetic designs are expected to play a key role in exploring future structural materials, facile fabrication of bulk biomimetic materials under ambient conditions remains a major challenge. Here, we describe a mesoscale "assembly-and-mineralization" approach inspired by the natural process in mollusks to fabricate bulk synthetic nacre that highly resembles both the chemical composition and the hierarchical structure of natural nacre. The millimeter-thick synthetic nacre consists of alternating organic layers and aragonite platelet layers (91 weight percent) and exhibits good ultimate strength and fracture toughness. This predesigned matrix-directed mineralization method represents a rational strategy for the preparation of robust composite materials with hierarchically ordered structures, where various constituents are adaptable, including brittle and heat-labile materials.