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Nature 446, 146-147 (8 March 2007) | doi:10.1038/446146a; Published online 7 March 2007

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Materials science: Silicon life forms

David J. Norris1

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A simple chemical reduction process has been used to replicate intricate natural networks of silica at a relatively low temperature. The equally elaborate product is made of silicon — electronics' golden boy.

Living organisms can produce amazingly complex materials — from bones to butterfly wings — that are not only functional but often beautiful1, 2. A dream of materials scientists is to understand and mimic nature, and thereby to obtain better man-made materials3, 4.

  1. David J. Norris is in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, 421 Washington Avenue SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA. He is currently on sabbatical at the Walter Schottky Institute, Garching, Germany.
    Email: dnorris@umn.edu

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