Bio-Inspired Nano Synthesis
Sponge studies lead to a method for making novel materials

SOURCE: "Kinetically Controlled Vapor-Diffusion Synthesis of Novel Nano-structured Metal Hydroxide and Phosphate Films Using No Organic Reagents" Birgit Schwenzer et al. Journal of Materials Chemistry 16: 401-407

RESULTS: Using mechanisms inspired by marine sponges, researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara, have developed a technique for making a variety of thin-film materials, including semiconductors, structured at the nanoscale. Unlike other methods, the technique can produce semiconducting thin films without the use of harsh chemicals, and it works at room temperature, whereas some techniques require temperatures of 400 to 1,500 ºC. So far, the researchers have used the process to synthesize 30 types of materials, some of which have novel electronic and optical properties.