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. 2014 Apr 30:5:554-60.
doi: 10.3762/bjnano.5.65. eCollection 2014.

Magnesiothermic conversion of the silica-mineralizing golden algae Mallomonas caudata and Synura petersenii to elemental silicon with high geometric precision

Janina Petrack  1 , Steffen Jost  2 , Jens Boenigk  2 , Matthias Epple  1
Affiliations

Magnesiothermic conversion of the silica-mineralizing golden algae Mallomonas caudata and Synura petersenii to elemental silicon with high geometric precision

Janina Petrack et al. Beilstein J Nanotechnol. .

Abstract

Chrysophyceae, also known as golden algae, contain characteristic, three-dimensional biomineralized silica structures. Their chemical composition and microscopic structure was studied. By high-temperature conversion of the skeleton of Mallomonas caudata and Synura petersenii into elementary silicon by magnesium vapour, nanostructured defined replicates were produced which were clearly seen after removal of the formed magnesium oxide with acid.

Keywords: biomineralization; golden algae; magnesiothermic conversion; silica; silicon.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Scanning electron micrographs of the skeletal elements of Mallomonas caudata with an overview of spikes and shields (A), a broken spike (B), and a view into a broken spike (C).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Scanning electron micrographs of the skeletal elements of Synura petersenii, showing the skeleton from various angles (A, B).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Characterization of the golden algae before the conversion. (A) shows powder diffractograms of Synura petersenii (black) and Mallomonas caudata (grey), (B) shows IR spectra of Synura petersenii (black) and Mallomonas caudata (grey), and (C) shows a thermogravimetric analysis of Synura petersenii in dynamic air atmosphere.
Figure 4
Figure 4
EDX analysis of golden algae (Synura petersenii) before the conversion.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The tube reactor used for the chemical conversion of the golden algae.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Scanning electron micrographs of the skeletons of Synura petersenii (A, B) and the shields of Mallomonas caudata (C, D) after conversion to silicon.
Figure 7
Figure 7
EDX spectra of Synura petersenii after conversion into silicon. The EDX spectra of Mallomonas caudata shows almost identical signals.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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