Ion bonding in organic scaffolding promotes biomineralization

The seashells you pick up at the beach might not seem extraordinary, but they’re a source of inspiration for researchers, whether seeking new routes to making materials or searching for efficient ways to store extra atmospheric carbon. Through a process called biomineralization, organisms like mollusks, clams, and corals trap excess carbon in their environment into hard calcium carbonate shells and, at the same time, endow the minerals with properties and shapes not yet achievable in the laboratory. Understanding on a molecular level the way that inorganic minerals interact with a framework of biological macromolecules is a critical step toward mimicking the process in artificial systems—and one that has proven challenging.