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Direct Fabrication of Large Micropatterned Single Crystals
Joanna Aizenberg,1*David A. Muller,1John L. Grazul,1D. R. Hamann12
Micropatterning of single crystals for technological applications
is a complex, multistep process. Nature provides alternativefabrication strategies, when crystals with exquisite
micro-ornamentationdirectly develop within preorganized frameworks. We
report a bio-inspiredapproach to growing large micropatterned single
crystals. Micropatternedtemplates organically modified to induce the
formation of metastableamorphous calcium carbonate were imprinted with
calcite nucleationsites. The template-directed deposition and
crystallization ofthe amorphous phase resulted in the fabrication of
millimeter-sizedsingle calcite crystals with sub-10-µm
patterns and controlledcrystallographic orientation. We suggest that
in addition to regulatingthe shape, micropatterned frameworks act as
sites for stress andimpurity release during the
amorphous-to-crystalline transition.The proposed mechanisms may have
direct biological relevance andbroad implications in materials
synthesis.
1 Bell Laboratories/Lucent Technologies, Murray
Hill, NJ 07974, USA.
2 Mat-Sim Research, Murray
Hill, NJ 07974, USA.
*
To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
jaizenberg{at}lucent.com
