About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Biological Materials Science
|
| Presentation Title |
A Scalable Platform for Functional Mineral Films via Interfacial Self-Assembly of Amorphous Calcium Carbonate |
| Author(s) |
Yi-yeoun Kim, Sameena Kanakkayil, Sean Collins |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Yi-yeoun Kim |
| Abstract Scope |
Amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) is a critical mineral phase, but its poor stability and morphological control limit its practical use. We demonstrate a simple method to produce stable, coherent ACC films at the air-water interface via passive CO₂ diffusion into a calcium solution, with film size limited only by the container.
This additive-free approach yielded diverse morphologies from spheres to smooth to porous films by solely tuning solution conditions. The films remain intact for three weeks and exhibit enhanced thermal stability.
Extensive characterization revealed that stability is governed by restricted structural water and film geometry. For the first time, mechanical and optical properties were quantified. Nanoindentation confirmed tunable mechanics, while high transparency and a tunable refractive index make the films promising for biocompatible optical components and anti-reflective coatings. This work establishes interfacial self-assembly as a tunable, scalable platform for advanced inorganic thin films. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Ceramics, Sustainability, Thin Films and Interfaces |