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Free-standing microscale structures of nanocrystalline zirconia with biologically replicable three-dimensional shapes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2011

Junping Zhao
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
Christopher S. Gaddis
Affiliation:
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332
Ye Cai
Affiliation:
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332
Kenneth H. Sandhage*
Affiliation:
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332
*
a) Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: ken.sandhage@mse.gatech.edu
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Abstract

Microscale zirconia structures with intricate three-dimensional (3D) shapes and nanoscale features were synthesized using diatom (single-celled algae) microshells as transient scaffolds. After exposure to a zirconium alkoxide-bearing solution and firing at 550–850 °C, silica-based diatom microshells were coated with a thin, continuous nanocrystalline zirconia layer. Predominantly tetragonal or monoclinic zirconia could be produced with appropriate heat treatments. Selective silica dissolution then yielded freestanding zirconia micro-assemblies that retained the microshell shape and fine features. Such hybrid (biological/synthetic chemical) processing may be used to mass-produce nanostructured micro-assemblies with a variety of 3D, biologically replicable shapes and tailored compositions for use in numerous applications.

Type
Rapid Communications
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2005

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