Electrochemical crystallization of spatially organized copper microwire arrays within biomineralized (dentine) templates

Wang, Jun; Harris, Joe; Li, Mei; Plana, Daniela; Barbour, Michele E.; Fermin, David J.; Mann, Stephen

Abstract

Macroporous biomineralized composites in the form of thin slices of tooth dentine were used to prepare oriented arrays of high aspect ratio copper microwires by template-directed electrochemical deposition. The coaligned wires were 1 to 4 μm in thickness, and spatially separated throughout the dentine matrix to produce a metallized inorganic–organic biocomposite that exhibited ohmic conductivity and enhanced mechanical hardness. Utilization of porous biomineral templates for the crystallization of metallic microwire arrays offers a novel step towards the low temperature fabrication of multi-functional conductive hybrid composites with integrated bioinspired properties.

Citation

Wang, J., Harris, J., Li, M., Plana, D., Barbour, M. E., Fermin, D. J., & Mann, S. (2013). Electrochemical crystallization of spatially organized copper microwire arrays within biomineralized (dentine) templates. CrystEngComm, 15(36), 7152. https://doi.org/10.1039/c3ce40704g

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 29, 2013
• Online Publication Date: May 30, 2013
• Publication Date: 2013
• Deposit Date: Jun 15, 2023
• Journal: CrystEngComm
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 15
• Issue: 36
• Pages: 7152
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/c3ce40704g
• Keywords: Condensed Matter Physics; General Materials Science; General Chemistry