Self-assembled growth of calcite particles on a tobacco film

Self-assembled monolayers provide a powerful tool for materials scientists to control the nucleation and growth of ceramic materials. However, the two-dimensional nature of this method greatly limits its application for synthesizing three-dimensional hierarchical materials. Self-assembled three-dimensional protein bodies present in the tobacco leaves have been used in this study as a template for the synthesis of prismatic calcite particles. The trigonal prism-shaped calcite particles replicate the basic two-dimensional triangular structure formed by the nanosized protein rods. Observed three-dimensional assembly of prismatic calcite particles correspond to the underlying ellipsoid conformation of the protein superstructure.