Exploring Laser-Induced Crystallization of Amorphous Carbonates: "writing crystallography"

Biomineralization showcases nature's precise control over mineral phase formation, inspiring lab-based exploration of bio-inspired crystallization, notably in synthetic CaCO3. High-resolution powder X-ray diffraction (HR-PXRD) aids in characterizing mineral structure changes. Our novel study focuses on laser-induced crystallization of Mg-stabilized amorphous calcium carbonates (ACC), revealing unique phases dependent on laser energy. We propose exploring the interaction of micron-sized lasers with amorphous carbonates for the first time, investigating phase formation under varied laser parameters and ACC precursor compositions. HR-PXRD on ID22 will characterize resulting crystal structure and microstructure, correlating carbonate type, laser-induced temperature, phases, and microstructural parameters. This study promises insights into laser-induced crystallization dynamics in amorphous carbonates, crucial for diverse applications and understanding natural mineralization processes.