New Hybrid Route to Biomimetic Synthesis
Abstract
To develop economical low-temperature routes to biomimetic synthesis of high-performance composite materials, with control of composition and structure based on the molecular mechanisms controlling biomineralization of calcium- and silicon-based nanocomposites. HIGHLIGHTS: We report success in our originally proposed transition from analysis of biological systems to the development of useful applications across a broad range of materials. We discovered that the silicateins - proteins we originally discovered responsible for the structure-directing catalysis of polymerization to form silica and silsesquioxanes - also can be used for the structure-directing polymerization of titanium dioxide from the appropriate water-stable alkoxide precursor. This result dramatically extends our initial development of the new field we called "Silicon Biotechnology" to an even broader "Functional Inorganic Materials Biotechnology."
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 21, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA412677
Entities
People
- Daniel E Morse
Organizations
- University of California Regents