WoRMS source details
Seto, J., Ma, Y., Davis, S. A., Meldrum, F., Gourrier, A., Kim, Y.-Y., Schilde, U., Sztucki, M., Burghammer, M., Maltsev, S., Jäger, C. & Cölfen, H. 2012. Structure-property relationships of a biological mesocrystal in the adult sea urchin spine . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences PNAS Early Edition, 1-6.
162649
10.1073/pnas.1109243109 [view]
Seto, J.; Ma, Y.; Davis, S. A.; Meldrum, F.; Gourrier, A.; Kim, Y.; Schilde, U.; Sztucki, M.; Burghammer, M.; Maltsev, S.; Jager, C.; Colfen, H.
2012
Structure-property relationships of a biological mesocrystal in the adult sea urchin spine
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
109(10), 3699-3704
Publication
Structuring over many length scales is a design strategy widely used in Nature to create materials with unique functional properties. We here present a comprehensive analysis of an adult sea urchin spine, and in revealing a complex, hierarchical structure, show how Nature fabricates a material which diffracts as a single crystal of calcite and yet fractures as a glassy material. Each spine comprises a highly oriented array of Mg-calcite nanocrystals in which amorphous regions and macromolecules are embedded. It is postulated that this mesocrystalline structure forms via the crystallization of a dense array of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) precursor particles. A residual surface layer of ACC and/or macromolecules remains around the nanoparticle units which creates the mesocrystal structure and contributes to the conchoidal fracture behavior. Nature’s demonstration of how crystallization of an amorphous precursor phase can create a crystalline material with remarkable properties therefore provides inspiration for a novel approach to the design and synthesis of synthetic composite materials.
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Authoeidaris accepted as Anthocidaris Lütken, 1864 accepted as Heliocidaris L. Agassiz & Desor, 1846 (basis of record)
Authoeidaris Erassispina accepted as Anthocidaris crassispina (A. Agassiz, 1864) accepted as Heliocidaris crassispina (A. Agassiz, 1864) (basis of record)
Authoeidaris Erassispina accepted as Anthocidaris crassispina (A. Agassiz, 1864) accepted as Heliocidaris crassispina (A. Agassiz, 1864) (basis of record)