Diatoms, structural mimics

Figure 5.34 The proposed template patterning mechanism in the formation of biomimetic microskeletal structures, where the circles with tails represent the cationic surfactant, the crosses represent the anionic dihydrogen phosphate counter-ions and the connected circles represent the tetraethylene glycol (TEG) molecules. Reprinted with permission from Nature Publishing Group, S. Oliver, A. Kuperman, N. Coombs, A. Lough and G. A. Ozin, Lamellar aluminophosphates with surface patterns that mimic diatom and radiolarian microskeletons. Nature, 378, 47-50 1 995.

Fiulher investigations of these structures and the conditions under which they formed are in progress. One interesting thing to note in this context is that diatoms that form perfectly round structmes in relatively quiet surroundings, may form rather elongated/ellipsoidal structures in shallow waters. Thus the conditions in vitro mimic the conditions in shallow water or windy areas wherein the medium is under continuous motion. 

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