Divalent cation-induced variations in polyelectrolyte conformation and controlling calcite morphologies : Direct observation of the phase transition by atomic force microscopy

• In the biomineralization process, the changes in conformation of organic matrix may be a widespread phenomenon. Investigation of the structural relationship between organic and inorganic materials is the main subject. The approach taken was to extract quantitative information of the variations in polyelectrolyte conformation during the mineralization process using atomic force microscopy. The results inter the evidence of the role of polyelectrolyte conformation in mineralization of calcium carbonate and the methods for understanding the principle that govern biomineralization.

Keyword

water-soluble copolymers

soft-shelled turtle

organic matrices

crystal phase

sea-urchin

carbonate

crystallization

magnesium

precipitation

ion

NATURAL SCIENCES

NATURVETENSKAP

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)