Reactive Conversion of Bioclastic Nanostructures
Abstract
Numerous examples can be found in nature of micro-organisms that assemble oxide nanoparticles into rigid (bioclastic) microstructures with intricate, but well-controlled 3-D shapes and fine (nanoscale) features. Because such self-assembly is under genetic control, a given micro-organism can generate bioclastic replicas with a high degree of fidelity upon biological reproduction. Continuous reproduction (repeated doubling) of such micro-organisms can yield enormous numbers of identically-shaped bioclastic structures. Such genetically-precise and massively-parallel self-assembly is a high-attractive means of generating large quantities of ceramic particles with complex and well-defined shapes. However, natural bioclastic compositions (amorphous SiO2, CaCO3) are not well-suited for high-temperature applications. This research is focused on the shape-preserving chemical conversion of natural, bioclastic structures into alumina and other refractory ceramics.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA470311
Entities
People
- Kenneth H. Sandhage
Organizations
- Georgia Tech Research Corporation