Examples of important findings by our research on this topic

Calcite crystals grown in the presence of L- and D- aspartic acids showing the break of morphological symmetry. This finding strongly suggest that the chirality of organic molecules and inorganic crystals may be mutually inherited from each other, revealing the possibility that biohomochirality may have originated from mineral surfaces on which the first form of life was evolved. Further study confirms that the symmetry breaking occurs at two-dimension level as well (below).

The quick changes (within seconds) of surface topography upon exposing calcite to succinic acid demonstrate the rapid kinetics of the interaction.

The unique morphology of etch pits (top) formed by calcite-succinic acid interactions suggests direction-specific binding of organic molecules on the surfaces of inorganic crystals (bottom).

Carbonate polymorphs (aragonite, or vaterite) formed in the presence of organic additives PVA and PAA. We are still investigating why organic polymers preferentially induce the formation of less stable carbonate polymorphs. Recent observations that certain minerals also have the ability to selectively grow non-calcite polymorphs (below) may give us a lead for this investigation.