No abstract

Highlights  In situ calcification (aragonite) of a 3.3 Ga microbial biofilm  Calcification probably due to the activities of a photosynthetic consortium of microorganisms within the biofilm including heterotrophic sulphur reducing bacteria  Preservation of the metastable carbonate phase by the organic matrix and secondary silicification  Oldest known occurrence of aragonite.

Platinum loaded carbon layers were synthesized by a two-step plasma sputtering process. 200 nm thick columnar (columns with an average diameter of 20 nm) carbon films having a large open porosity were formed in the first step. Using the same plasma system, the films were subsequently loaded with platinum. SEM, TEM and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry analysis show that platinum diffuses into the carbon layer and forms nano-sized particles (mean diameter ca. 3 nm) along and around the carbon nanocolumns and down to the film/support interface. Optimized catalytic layers were formed at low plasma pressure operation (<1 Pa) and had an upper platinum loading limit of about 0.1 mg.cm -2 .