Template induced crystallization of biominerals on self-assembled monolayers of alkylthiols

We have studied the templated crystallization of the three polymorphs of calcium carbonate on self-assembled monolayers of omega-substituted alkylthiols on gold surfaces. Our interest has been to model biomineralization processes by examining the effect of structured organic templates on heterogeneous nucleation at the inorganic-organic interphase. The crystallization of the three polymorphs was carried out from solution at two different temperatures. The crystals that were formed on the surface were examined using scanning electron microscopy. Phase quantification was achieved through Rietveld analysis of the X-ray diffraction profiles. This study provides significant clues on factors that affect such templated crystallization. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.