Thin, Conformal, and Continuous SnO₂ Coatings on Three‐Dimensional Biosilica Templates through Hydroxy‐Group Amplification and Layer‐By‐Layer Alkoxide Deposition

Led to the bioscaffold: A method is developed to coat intricate biosilica structures with functional oxides. Thin coatings of SnO2 are applied to the silica valves of diatoms (see picture) through dendritic amplification of surface hydroxy groups and subsequent sol–gel processing. The SnO2-coated valves act as sensitive detectors for NO gas.