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Stable prenucleation mineral clusters are liquid-like ionic polymers
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Demichelis, Raffaella, Raiteri, Paolo, Gale, Julian D., Quigley, David and Gebauer, Denis (2011) Stable prenucleation mineral clusters are liquid-like ionic polymers. Nature Communications, Vol.2 . Article no. 590. doi:10.1038/ncomms1604
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms1604
Abstract
Calcium carbonate is an abundant substance that can be created in several mineral forms by the reaction of dissolved carbon dioxide in water with calcium ions. Through biomineralization, organisms can harness and control this process to form various functional materials that can act as anything from shells through to lenses. The early stages of calcium carbonate formation have recently attracted attention as stable prenucleation clusters have been observed, contrary to classical models. Here we show, using computer simulations combined with the analysis of experimental data, that these mineral clusters are made of an ionic polymer, composed of alternating calcium and carbonate ions, with a dynamic topology consisting of chains, branches and rings. The existence of a disordered, flexible and strongly hydrated precursor provides a basis for explaining the formation of other liquid-like amorphous states of calcium carbonate, in addition to the non-classical behaviour during growth of amorphous calcium carbonate.
| Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subjects: | Q Science > QD Chemistry | ||||
| Divisions: | Faculty of Science > Physics Faculty of Science > Centre for Scientific Computing |
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| Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Calcium carbonate -- Synthesis -- Computer simulation | ||||
| Journal or Publication Title: | Nature Communications | ||||
| Publisher: | Nature Publishing Group | ||||
| ISSN: | 2041-1723 | ||||
| Official Date: | 20 December 2011 | ||||
| Dates: |
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| Volume: | Vol.2 | ||||
| Page Range: | Article no. 590 | ||||
| DOI: | 10.1038/ncomms1604 | ||||
| Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||
| Publication Status: | Published | ||||
| Access rights to Published version: | Open Access | ||||
| Funder: | Australian Research Council (ARC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) | ||||
| Grant number: | DP986999 (ARC), EP/H00341X/1 (EPSRC) |
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