Visualization of the effect of additives on the nanostructures of individual bio-inspired calcite crystals

DOI: 10.1039/C8SC03733G

Authors: Johannes Ihli (University of Leeds) , Jesse N. Clark (SLAC National Accelerator) , Nasima Kanwal (University of St. Andrews) , Yi-Yeoun Kim (University of Leeds) , Mark A. Holden (University of Leeds) , Ross J. Harder (Advanced Photon Source) , Chiu C. Tang (Diamond Light Source) , Sharon E. Ashbrook (University of St. Andrews) , Ian K. Robinson (University College London; Brookhaven National Lab) , Fiona C. Meldrum (University of Leeds)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Chemical Science , VOL 13

State: Published (Approved)
Published: November 2018
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 7654 , 7277

Abstract: Soluble additives provide a versatile strategy for controlling crystallization processes, enabling selection of properties including crystal sizes, morphologies, and structures. The additive species can also be incorporated within the crystal lattice, leading for example to enhanced mechanical properties. However, while many techniques are available for analyzing particle shape and structure, it remains challenging to characterize the structural inhomogeneities and defects introduced into individual crystals by these additives, where these govern many important material properties. Here, we exploit Bragg coherent diffraction imaging to visualize the effects of soluble additives on the internal structures of individual crystals on the nanoscale. Investigation of bio-inspired calcite crystals grown in the presence of lysine or magnesium ions reveals that while a single dislocation is observed in calcite crystals grown in the presence of lysine, magnesium ions generate complex strain patterns. Indeed, in addition to the expected homogeneous solid solution of Mg ions in the calcite lattice, we observe two zones comprising alternating lattice contractions and relaxation, where comparable alternating layers of high magnesium calcite have been observed in many magnesium calcite biominerals. Such insight into the structures of nanocomposite crystals will ultimately enable us to understand and control their properties.

Subject Areas: Chemistry, Materials


Instruments: I13-1-Coherence

Added On: 28/11/2018 15:42

Documents:
c8sc03733g.pdf

Discipline Tags:

Chemistry Materials Science

Technical Tags:

Imaging Coherent Diffraction Imaging (CDI) Bragg CDI