Article
Biomimetic Synthesis of Silica with Its Morphology Mediated by Chitosan
Small
(2008)
Abstract
Spherical, tabular, unique carambola-like shaped silica particles (see figure) are produced by the mediation of chitosan, a natural polyelectrolyte with abundant hydroxyl and amino groups. The silica morphology depends on the incubation time of the chitosan solution with phosphate ions before silicification. A sheet of the carambola-like silica made in this way has a granular surface, which inspires an “assembly–aggregation–silicification” model.
Keywords
- Biomineralization,
- Diatoms,
- Nanostructures,
- Polysaccharides,
- Self-Assembly
Disciplines
Publication Date
2008
Citation Information
Boxun Leng, Xin Chen, Zhengzhong Shao and Weihua Ming. "Biomimetic Synthesis of Silica with Its Morphology Mediated by Chitosan" Small Vol. 4 Iss. 6 (2008) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/weihuamarshall_ming/13/