Pore architecture of diatom frustules: Potential nanostructured membranes for molecular and particle separations

摘要: Diatoms produce diverse three-dimensional regular silica structures with nanometer to micrometer dimensions and hold considerable promise for biological biomimetic fabrication of nanostructured materials devices. In the present work, we describe ultrastructural characterization porous in diatom biosilica discuss their potential as membrane filters diffusion based separations. The frustules two centric species, Coscinodiscus sp. Thalassiosira eccentrica, were investigated using scanning electron microscopy atomic force microscopy. Their morphological features, including pore size, shape, porosity, organization, are described. We observed that although organization eccentrica is reverse order, a striking commonality size range smallest pores both species (around 40 nm). consensus lower suggests frustule valves have common function at this excluding viruses or other deleterious particles, optimized purpose. suggest implement an experimental approach study diffusive separation molecular nanoparticular components microfluidic lab-on-a-chip environments.