Hydroxyl-rich macromolecules enable the bio-inspired synthesis of single crystal nanocomposites

Yi-Yeoun Kim (), Robert Darkins, Alexander Broad, Alexander N. Kulak, Mark A. Holden, Ouassef Nahi, Steven P. Armes, Chiu C. Tang, Rebecca F. Thompson, Frederic Marin, Dorothy M. Duffy () and Fiona C. Meldrum ()
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Yi-Yeoun Kim: University of Leeds
Robert Darkins: University College London
Alexander Broad: University College London
Alexander N. Kulak: University of Leeds
Mark A. Holden: University of Leeds
Ouassef Nahi: University of Leeds
Steven P. Armes: University of Sheffield
Chiu C. Tang: Harwell Science and Innovation Campus
Rebecca F. Thompson: University of Leeds
Frederic Marin: Université de Bourgogne–Franche-Comté
Dorothy M. Duffy: University College London
Fiona C. Meldrum: University of Leeds

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Abstract Acidic macromolecules are traditionally considered key to calcium carbonate biomineralisation and have long been first choice in the bio-inspired synthesis of crystalline materials. Here, we challenge this view and demonstrate that low-charge macromolecules can vastly outperform their acidic counterparts in the synthesis of nanocomposites. Using gold nanoparticles functionalised with low charge, hydroxyl-rich proteins and homopolymers as growth additives, we show that extremely high concentrations of nanoparticles can be incorporated within calcite single crystals, while maintaining the continuity of the lattice and the original rhombohedral morphologies of the crystals. The nanoparticles are perfectly dispersed within the host crystal and at high concentrations are so closely apposed that they exhibit plasmon coupling and induce an unexpected contraction of the crystal lattice. The versatility of this strategy is then demonstrated by extension to alternative host crystals. This simple and scalable occlusion approach opens the door to a novel class of single crystal nanocomposites.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13422-9

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