Skip to main content
Main Menu
Utility Menu
Search
HARVARD.EDU
Contact
News
Search
Mission
Research
Publications
Team
Join Our Team
HOME
/
February 2006: Biomimetic silicification of 3D polyamine-rich scaffolds assembled by direct ink writing
« Back to gallery
Item 24 of 32
« Previous
|
Next »
We report a method for creating synthetic diatom frustules via the biomimetic silicification of polyamine-rich scaffolds assembled by direct ink writing (DIW) [G. M. Gratson, M. Xu and J. A. Lewis, Nature, 2004, 428, 386, ref. 1]. A concentrated polyamine-rich ink is robotically deposited in a complex 3D pattern that mimics the shape of naturally occurring diatom frustules, Triceratium favus Ehrenberg (triangular-shaped) and Arachnoidiscus ehrenbergii (webshaped). Upon exposing these scaffolds to silicic acid under ambient conditions, silica formation occurs in a shapepreserving fashion. Our method yields 3D inorganic-organic hybrids structures that may find potential application as templates for photonic materials, novel membranes, or catalyst supports.