Ambient Formation of Spherulites of Mg-Calcite in an Aqueous Lipid Solution through the Interplay between Multiple Pathways
Journal
Journal of Physical Chemistry C
Journal Volume
124
Journal Issue
37
Pages
20538-20546
Date Issued
2020
Author(s)
Tsao, C.
Yu, P.-T.
Li, S.-L.
Hsu, I.-J.
Chuang, Y.-C.
Chang, C.-K.
Chen, S.-J.
Abstract
Nanograins of Mg-containing amorphous calcium carbonate were prepared in an l-α-lecithin solution from which spherulitic crystallites of high-Mg calcite were subsequently formed. The structures of the spherulites of high-Mg calcite were carefully characterized using powder X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and solid-state NMR spectroscopy. While the initial growth of Mg-calcite spherulites occurs through the particle attachment pathway, the process of ion-by-ion addition appears to be the predominant mechanism of formation near the end stage of the crystal growth. Consequently, the outer region of the Mg-calcite spherulites displays a higher crystallinity than the inner region, which is a direct consequence of the interplay between multiple pathways.
Type
journal article