Nature's Nanotechnologists: Unveiling the Secrets of Diatoms

Bradbury, Jane

doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0020306

Cited by 62 publications

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“…Additionally, the intricate hierarchical nanostructures found in diatom frustules have attracted considerable interest for nanotechnology applications. 15,16 Diatom frustules have the highest strength-to-weight ratio of all reported natural biomaterials, 17 their periodic nanoscale pores result in both high surface areas and unique photonic properties which enhance light uptake. 15, 18 In the living diatom this aids photosynthesis but the functional structures persist in the deceased organisms' biomineral shell.…”

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“…The approach circumvents the need for assembly of a microporous scaffold and exploits nature's ability to fabricate complex hierarchical structures which are expensive or impossible to produce using existing nanofabrication techniques. 16 The simple method outlined here allows the assembly of nanosheet layers on micro-patterned substrates of high surface area without the need for surface modification or linking agents. 20,21 In this approach, DE is immersed in a tetrahydrofuran solution of MoL 4 precursor, the majority of the solvent is then filtered off, leaving DE stained with the molybdenum(IV) complex.…”

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“…28,29,50 With over one hundred thousand known species of diatoms, and the potential for further genetic manipulation, a rich variety of frustule morphologies are available to explore. 16 Furthermore, this approach could easily be adapted to other metal sulphides by changing the precursor chemistry. [51][52][53] Single source precursor chemistry has previously been shown to allow control over the morphology of nanocrystal products, 54 and combining multiple precursors offers a simple route to doped or alloyed nanostructures.…”

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Modelling the nucleation, growth and coarsening kinetics of γ″ (D022) precipitates in the Ni-base Alloy 625

2016

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We report the use of diatom frustules as scaffolds for the growth of molybdenum disulfide nanosheets. The frustules were impregnated with a single source molecular precursor complex which is converted to MoS 2 by solventless thermolysis. Randomly oriented few-layer thick MoS 2 nanosheets are found to coat both the exterior surface and internal pores of the scaffold.Nature displays exquisite control of phase and morphology during biomineralisation and the resulting mineralised structures have been found to possess attractive functional properties, particularly in the area of photonics. [1][2][3][4] Consequently there is considerable scientific interest in replicating the intricate architectures found in nature, 5-9 as well as enhancing the intrinsic properties of biomineralised structures' by decoration with inorganic nanostructures. [10][11][12][13] Diatoms are marine-dwelling eukaryotic unicellular algae, 14 which produce biomineralised silica exoskeletons known as frustules. Diatom frustules comprise the majority of the biosilica found in oceans, 14 and bulk quantities of the fossilised shells are recovered by dredging. This material is known as diatomaceous-earth (DE). It is widely available and inexpensive and finds use in a number of products including toothpaste and as a laboratory filter aid (under the trade name Celite™). Additionally, the intricate hierarchical nanostructures found in diatom frustules have attracted considerable interest for nanotechnology applications. 15,16 Diatom frustules have the highest strength-to-weight ratio of all reported natural biomaterials, 17 their periodic nanoscale pores result in both high surface areas and unique photonic properties which enhance light uptake. 15, 18 In the living diatom this aids photosynthesis but the functional structures persist in the deceased organisms' biomineral shell. 15, 18, 19 Biosilica is an inert insulator which provides an ideal scaffold or template for functional materials. 13, 15,[20][21][22] By introducing semiconducting materials into the biomineralised architecture it is potentially possible to exploit the frustules' photonic properties for light harvesting or its large surface area for sensing and catalytic applications. 15, 19, 20 For example, diatom frustules coated with TiO 2 have been incorporated into dye sensitised solar cells, where the devices' enhanced performance was attributed to improved light scattering by the diatoms. 15 A surface sol-gel process has been used to coat diatom frustules with a ~50 nm thick layer of SnO 2 ; the resulting structures were used as NO gas detectors. 20 Bao et al. have reported the conversion of the insulating silica of diatom frustules to semiconducting silicon by magnesiothermic reduction, 23 after which the photocatalytic properties of the resulting structures was enhanced by subsequent deposition of CdS on the frustule's surface. 19 However, to-date, there have been no reports of the functionalization of biomineralised structure with twodimensional (2D) semiconductor materials.Mol...

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Modelling the nucleation, growth and coarsening kinetics of γ″ (D022) precipitates in the Ni-base Alloy 625

2016

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“…45-50% to the global NPP (Field et al, 1998). Additionally, diatoms are important for the biogeochemical cycling of silicon, due to their ornate cell walls (called "frustules") composed of biomineralised silica (Bradbury, 2004).…”

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Capsules of the diatom Achnanthidium minutissimum arise from fibrillar precursors and foster attachment of bacteria

Leinweber

Kroth

2014

Preprint

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Achnanthidium minutissimum is a benthic diatom that may form biofilms on submerged, aquatic surfaces. Within these biofilms, A. minutissimum cells produce extracellular structures which facilitate substrate adhesion, such as stalks and capsules. Both consist of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), but the microstructure and development stages of the capsules are so far unknown, despite a number of hypotheses about their function, inlcuding attachment and protection. We coupled scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to bright-field microscopy (BFM) and found that A. minutissimum capsules mostly possess an unstructured surface. However, capsule material that was mechanically stressed by being

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“…These unicellular microscopic plants inhabit aquatic and moist environments and are responsible for the world primary food production. The skeleton of the diatoms, known as frustules or siliceous shell, is made of nano-size silica with a three-dimensional intricate framework [2][3][4][5]. Each diatom frustules has species specific regularly arrayed features; pores, ridges and protuberance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Calcined and natural frustules filled epoxy matrices: The effect of volume fraction on the tensile and compression behavior

Gültürk

Güden

Taşdemirci

2013

Composites Part B: Engineering

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a b s t r a c tThe effects of calcined diatom (CD) and natural diatom (ND) frustules filling (0-12 vol.%) on the quasistatic tensile and quasi-static and high strain rate compression behavior of an epoxy matrix were investigated experimentally. The high strain rate testing of frustules-filled and neat epoxy samples was performed in a compression Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar set-up. The frustules filling increased the stress values at a constant strain and decreased the tensile failure strains of the epoxy matrix. Compression tests results showed that frustules filling of epoxy increased both elastic modulus and yield strength values at quasi-static and high strain rates. While, a higher strengthening effect and strain rate sensitivity were found with ND frustules filling. Microscopic observations revealed two main compression deformation modes at quasi-static strain rates: the debonding of the frustules from the epoxy and/or crushing of the frustules. However, the failure of the filled composites at high strain rates was dominated by the fracture of epoxy matrix.

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Nature's Nanotechnologists: Unveiling the Secrets of Diatoms

Abstract: Diatoms are unicellular algae with ornate silica shells. Their dazzling ability to build tiny structures could inspire applications in the semiconductor industry, drug delivery, and engineering

Cited by 62 publications

References 4 publications

Modelling the nucleation, growth and coarsening kinetics of γ″ (D022) precipitates in the Ni-base Alloy 625

Modelling the nucleation, growth and coarsening kinetics of γ″ (D022) precipitates in the Ni-base Alloy 625

Capsules of the diatom Achnanthidium minutissimum arise from fibrillar precursors and foster attachment of bacteria

Calcined and natural frustules filled epoxy matrices: The effect of volume fraction on the tensile and compression behavior

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