Phase transformation of amorphous calcium carbonate to single-crystalline aragonite with macroscopic layered structure in the presence of egg white protein and zinc ion

Highly oriented calcium carbonate lamellas are exquisite structure produced by biomineralization. Strategies mimicking nature have been developed to synthesize inorganic materials with excellent structures and optimal properties. In our strategy, egg white protein and zinc ion were employed in the solution to induce the crystallization of calcium carbonate, resulting in the macroscopic aragonite laminate with an average length of 1.5 mm, which was comprised of single-crystalline tablets. During the crystallization at initial stage, it was found that the particles displayed the characteristics of amorphous calcium carbonate, which was then transformed into the sophisticated structured aragonite through a multistage assembly process. The rebuilt nacre structure in vitro was achieved owing to the synergistic effects of egg white protein and zinc ion.