Biomimetic synthesis of aragonite superstructures using hexamethylenetetramine

Journal Article · Mon Nov 14 23:00:00 EST 2011 · Journal of Solid State Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssc.2011.08.009· OSTI ID:21580045

Long, Chen ^[1]; Fangzhi, Huang; Shikuo, Li ^[1]; Jian, Pan ^[2]; Yaping, Zhang; Yan, Cai ^[1]

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1. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230039 (China)
2. Post-Doctoral Scientific Research Workstation, HuangShan NOVEL Co. Ltd, Huangshan 245061 (China)

In this paper, biomimetic synthesis of aragonite superstructures using a low molecular weight organic-hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) as an additive in the presence of CO{sub 2} supplied by an ammonium carbonate ((NH{sub 4}){sub 2}CO{sub 3}) diffusion method at room temperature was studied. The products were characterized by scanning or transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffractometry, and selected area electron diffraction. The results showed the aragonite superstructures especially dumbbell-flower-like ones were obtained. The formation process of calcium carbonate (CaCO{sub 3}) in HMT aqueous solution was investigated, suggesting that the products transformed from calcite to vaterite primarily, and then changed into a mixture of aragonite and calcite with an increase of reaction time. The formation mechanism of CaCO{sub 3} in HMT solution was also discussed, revealing that aragonite might be controlled by HMT molecules and NH{sub 4}{sup +} ions together. - Graphical abstract: The well-defined aragonite hierarchical superstructures are formed using hexamethylenetetramine in aqueous solution. Highlights: > Aragonite superstructures are formed with hexamethylenetetramine at about 25 deg. C. > Dumbbell-flower-like aragonite produces when hexamethylenetetramine/Ca{sup 2+}=10:1. > CaCO{sub 3} formation in hexamethylenetetramine solution violates the Ostwald ripening. > Hexamethylenetetramine and NH{sub 4}{sup +} might control the growth of aragonite together.

• OSTI ID: 21580045
• Journal Information: Journal of Solid State Chemistry, Journal Name: Journal of Solid State Chemistry Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 184; ISSN 0022-4596; ISSN JSSCBI
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
AMINES
AMMONIUM CARBONATES
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
ARAGONITE
CALCITE
CALCIUM CARBONATES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM IONS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATE MINERALS
CARBONATES
CHARGED PARTICLES
COHERENT SCATTERING
CONTROL
DIFFRACTION
DISPERSIONS
ELECTRON DIFFRACTION
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
FOURIER TRANSFORMATION
HOMOGENEOUS MIXTURES
INFRARED SPECTRA
INTEGRAL TRANSFORMATIONS
IONS
MICROSCOPY
MINERALS
MIXTURES
MOLECULAR WEIGHT
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SCATTERING
SOLUTIONS
SPECTRA
SYNTHESIS
TRANSFORMATIONS
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
UROTROPIN
X-RAY DIFFRACTION