Growth Mechanism of a Unique Hierarchical Vaterite Structure
Abstract
Calcium carbonate is one of the most significant minerals in nature as well as in biogenic sources. Calcium carbonate occurs naturally in three crystalline polymorphs, i.e., calcite, aragonite, and vaterite. Although it has been attracted much research attention to understanding of the formation mechanisms of the material, the properties of the vaterite polymorph is not well known. Here we report synthesis and formation mechanism of a unique hierarchical structure of vaterite. The material is grown by a controlled diffusion method. The structure possesses a core and an outer part. The core is convex lens-like and is formed by vaterite nanocrystals that have small misorientations. The outer part is separated into six garlic clove-like segments. Each segment possesses piles of plate-like vaterite crystals, and the orientations of the plates continuously change from pile to pile. Based on real-time experimental results and the structural analysis, a growth mechanism is presented.
Work supported by NSFC (Grant No. 51172104) and MOST of China (Grant No. 2101CB630705)- Publication:
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APS March Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- March 2013
- Bibcode:
- 2013APS..MAR.J6015M