Formation of Patterned Continuous Calcium Carbonate Films on Self-Assembled Monolayers via Nanoparticle-Directed Crystallization

The controlled growth of ceramic films on a solid substrate can be accomplished by using monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles as nucleation directors (see Figure). The combination of biomimetics and nanoscience/nanotechnologies such as that employed here should open up new possibilities to hitherto unknown smart composite materials having enhanced mechanical, physical, and chemical properties.