A Hydrated Crystalline Calcium Carbonate Phase: Calcium Carbonate Hemihydrate

摘要

As one of the most abundant materials in the world, calcium carbonate, CaCO3, is the main constituent of the skeletons and shells of various marine organisms. It is used in the cement industry and plays a crucial role in the global carbon cycle and formation of sedimentary rocks. For more than a century, only three polymorphs of pure CaCO3—calcite, aragonite, and vaterite—were known to exist at ambient conditions, as well as two hydrated crystal phases, monohydrocalcite (CaCO3·1H2O) and ikaite (CaCO3·6H2O). While investigating the role of magnesium ions in crystallization pathways of amorphous calcium carbonate, we unexpectedly discovered an unknown crystalline phase, hemihydrate CaCO3·½H2O, with monoclinic structure. This discovery may have important implications in biomineralization, geology, and industrial processes based on hydration of CaCO3.

邹朝勇

研究员

武汉理工大学材料复合新技术国家重点实验室研究员，国家级高层次人才（青年项目），湖北省高层次人才，主要研究方向是生物过程启示的制备技术

普帕·吉尔伯特（Pupa Gilbert）

美国威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校物理系教授

美国威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校物理系教授，生物矿化领域的国际知名学者，同步辐射谱显微技术（PEEM、PIC mapping）的先驱。

彼得·弗拉茨尔（Peter Fratzl）

德国马普胶体与界面研究所教授、德国国家科学院院士

德国马普胶体与界面研究所生物材料系主任，生物与仿生材料科学领域的国际著名学者，研究天然材料（骨骼、木材、贝壳等）的分层结构与物理性能关系。