Additive-dependent morphogenesis of oriented calcite crystals on mica

Abstract

(001) Oriented calcite crystals were synthesized on mica due to the crystal lattice match between the (001) calcite face and (001) plane of mica. Poly(vinyl sulfonate) and poly(acrylic acid) were used to study their effects on the crystal habit of calcite. Two different kinds of morphogenesis of (001) oriented calcite on mica occurred with the increase of additive concentrations. The present study is useful to understand the roles of additives in the crystallization of CaCO3 and provides an appropriate model system for biomineralization.