Poly(propylene imine) dendrimers that are modified with long alkyl chains self-assemble to form welldefined aggregates. The geometry and surface chemistry of the dendrimer assemblies can be varied through the addition of surfactants. These dendrimer/surfactant aggregates can be tuned to template the formation of the different phases of calcium carbonate. The use of octadecylamine results in the formation of polyhedral aggregates that become embedded within an amorphous calcium carbonate phase that persists in competition with the thermodynamic product, calcite. In combination with hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, small spherical aggregates are formed that induce the formation of vaterite. The use of the negatively charged surfactant SDS results in growth retardation by the Ca²⁺-induced agglomeration of dendrimer/surfactant aggregates into giant spherical particles. Eventually these particles become overgrown by rhombohedral calcite.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	amorphous materials, biomimetic synthesis, calcium carbonate, dendrimers self-assembly
Research Division:	Chemical Sciences
Research Group:	Macromolecular and materials chemistry
Research Field:	Structure and dynamics of materials
Objective Division:	Expanding Knowledge
Objective Group:	Expanding knowledge
Objective Field:	Expanding knowledge in the chemical sciences
UTAS Author:	Heywood, BR (Professor Brigid Heywood)
ID Code:	104459
Year Published:	2002
Web of Science® Times Cited:	98
Deposited By:	Research Division
Deposited On:	2015-11-12
Last Modified:	2015-12-22
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