Creation of calcite hollow microspheres with attached bundles of aragonite needles

Novel calcite hollow microspheres attached with bundles of aragonite needles have been synthesized via a simple precipitation reaction of aqueous solutions of CaClB2B and NaB2BCOB3B in the presence of MgP2+P ions at room temperature. The experimental results revealed that an appropriate molar ratio of [MgP2+P]/[CaP2+P], pH value of the solution and aging time are crucial for the formation of the unusual hierarchical CaCOB3B superstructure. A possible growth mechanism is proposed. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)