Bio-inspired Crystallisation Pathways in Calcium Carbonate

Crystallisation of amorphous calcium carbonate has been reported in the literature with various characterisation methods, and is thought to generally proceed via the following route: Hydrated ACC>Dehydrated ACC>Vaterite>Calcite. We are interested in how the addition of varying concentrations of amino acids can direct this crystallisation pathway, as our experimental data indicate that there is a complex relationship between the amino acids used in synthesis and the hydration of a sample of calcium carbonate. Inelastic neutron spectroscopy would provide a powerful insight into the role of water in these pathways due to the increased visibility of hydrogen in water and in the amino acid relative to other elements and the ability to measure all active vibrations.