Chapter 23 - The Frontier of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry (I)—Biomimetic Synthesis

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the biomimetic synthesis of inorganic materials, specifically biomineralization and its mimetic inorganic materials, biotemplated inorganic materials, biomimetic synthesis of inorganic chiral materials, and bio-inspired multiscale inorganic materials. The term biomimetics is defined as the investigation of the structures and functions of biological materials that allows possible future design and synthesis of new and improved materials based on the principles of natural materials. Biomimetic principles provide new methods and approaches for the construction of novel structural and functional materials. Learning from nature provides important inspiration to develop new methods to construct artificial advanced materials. Inspired by nature, much attention has been paid to biomimetic or bio-inspired design and synthesis of structural and functional materials. Biominerals are well-known composites of inorganic and organic materials in the form of fascinating shapes and high-ordered structures. The biological formation of minerals by living organisms is commonly called biomineralization. The most common mineral components are calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate (hydroxyapatite), and amorphous silica. Natural biominerals generally possess hierarchical structures organized at the nano, micro, meso, and macro levels, which exhibit optimized functions and high environmental adaptability as a result of longtime evolution. Biomineralization offers valuable ideas and inventive principles for materials scientists, chemists, and engineers to learn how to create superstructures resembling naturally existing biominerals with their unusual shapes and complexity.