简介:Naturalcomposites,formedthroughbiomineralization,havehighlyorderedstructureswhichhavebeenaptlyexploredforfunctionalapplications.Thoughtheroleoforganicphaseshasbeenwellunderstoodinbiomineralization,notenoughattentionhasbeenpaidtotheroleofbio-membraneswhichareoftenfoundencapsulatingthechamberinwhichmineralizationoccurs.Wehaveusedthenaturalproteinandsemi-permeablemembraneofchickeneggstogrowdifferentmaterialssuchasceramics,semi-metalsandmetalstounderstandtheroleofbio-membranesinbiomineralization.Weherereportthesuccessfulbiomimeticsynthesisofcalcite,cadmiumsulphide,andsilverhavinghomogeneousmorphologies.Wehavefoundthatthemembraneoperateslikeatunedgateway,playingasignificantroleincontrollingthemorphologyoftheinorganiccrystalsformedduringbiomineralization.