Electrocrystallization of CaCO3 Crystals Obtained through Phosphorylated Chitin

• Main Authors: Nicole Butto, Gustavo Cabrera-Barjas, Andrónico Neira-Carrillo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-02-01
• Series: Crystals
• Subjects: calcium carbonate; phosphorylated chitin; electrocrystallization; potentiometric titration; gas diffusion method
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/8/2/82

A phosphorylated chitin (Chi-P) derivative was synthesized and its chemical structure was verified with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), elemental analysis, and thermogravimetric techniques (TGA). The influence of Chi-P used as a solid template through in vitro electrocrystallization (EC) supported on an indium zinc oxide (ITO) surface on the growth of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) was studied. CaCO3 crystals through EC essays were also compared with crystals obtained with the gas diffusion (GD) method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), chronopotentiometry, Raman, and powder X-ray diffractometry (XRD) characterized all resultant inorganic particles. Our findings revealed that the EC method selectively controlled the coexistence of truncate calcite and the metastable phase of vaterite. The crystals’ morphology reflects the electrostatic interaction of phosphate moieties from Chi-P onto CaCO3 crystals through both EC and GD crystallization methods. We believe that the EC method represents a viable electrochemical approach for studying different inorganic minerals and could be useful as an in vitro classical crystallization method for the design of advanced inorganic materials with desirable shapes and properties.