Preparation and structure evolution of bowknot-like calcium carbonate particles in the presence of poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfate)

[Display omitted] ► Bowknot-like CaCO3 particles are fabricated. ► The bowknot particle is mainly composed by ACC. ► A stepwise growth mechanism is proposed. ► Morphology evolution depends on PSS and Ca2+ ions. Calcium carbonate particles with a novel bowknot-like superstructure were fabricated in the presence of poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfate) (PSS) and under the assistance of ultrasonication during the initial reaction stage. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) were used to characterize the particles. Results demonstrated that the bowknot-like calcium carbonate particles were mainly composed of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) and some amounts of calcite and vaterite. Ultrasound irradiation associated with the presence of PSS affects the mesoscale crystallization, resulting in stepwise growth of the earlier bundles to the bowknot. Morphology evolution and dissolution of the bowknot particle were observed in different media, confirming that PSS and Ca2+ ions in the solutions could accelerate and resist the transformation process, respectively. In the presence of PSS, ACC prefers to transform into vaterite.