Materials Science Program Seminar by Prof. Lara Estroff, MS&E, Cornell Univ.

Biogenic calcite crystals are known to incorporate biomacromolecules and other organic molecules while still diffracting x-rays as single crystals. Such structures represent an interesting class of crystalline materials that can couple high surface areas with high degrees of long-range order. In addition, such biogenic crystals have been reported to have higher hardnesses and fracture toughnesses as compared to geologic calcite.