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Micro-printing with crystal inks

Nature volume 398, pages 461–462 (1999)Cite this article

Patterning a surface is the key to growing crystals on some areas of a substrate and not others. This can now be done, bringing the prospect of crystalline materials, patterned on nanometre scales, a step closer to reality.

Sophisticated new electronic or ceramic materials could be produced if we could grow arrays of crystals with a certain orientation and size, and at specific locations. This is evidently possible, even down to nanometre resolution. Certain organisms have evolved the ability to produce such crystal arrays, and with great fidelity. Materials scientists, often inspired by biology, have spent much time and effort in trying to emulate nature in this way. The report on page 495 of this issue1 by Aizenberg, Black and Whitesides represents one of the best, if not the best, attempts yet.

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Figure 1: Controlling crystal growth — the principles behind the experiment of Aizenberg et al.1.
Figure 2: Transmission electron micrograph of part of the bacterium Leptothrix, showing the patterned mineralized coat composed of amorphous iron hydroxide10.

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  1. Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel

    Lia Addadi & Steve Weiner

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  1. Lia Addadi
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  2. Steve Weiner
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Addadi, L., Weiner, S. Micro-printing with crystal inks. Nature 398, 461–462 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/18966

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