Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 February 2011
Mineralization processes used by bioorganisms have been adapted for the nucleation and growth of ceramic oxide thin films onto surfaces from aqueous solutions. These strategies include the use of surfaces derivatized with specific functional groups that control the nucleation and growth and properties of materials deposited. Iron oxide materials were deposited onto functionalized polystyrene surfaces, resulting in the formation of thin films composed of densely packed, nanometer-sized crystallites. Evidence for the formation of oriented crystallites was found. This process may have advantages over conventional thin film processing methods due to the ability to systematically control properties of materials deposited.