Nacre Defect Mapping a Step Towards a Greener Future

Apr 15, 2022By Brian Sandalow

Using powerful new imaging techniques, Vinayak P. Dravid and Xiaobing Hu have completed an atomic-scale analysis of the make-up and defects of nacre, a substance mainly composed of aragonite. By damaging the chemical makeup of nacre through exposure to electrons, Dravid and Hu discovered several defects as well as a novel potential energy dissipation mode, providing a useful touchstone for modeling the material’s behavior and performance in adverse conditions going forward. As synthetic aragonite holds significant promise as a carbon sequestration solution, the ability to account for and improve the substance’s behaviors in adverse conditions will help make it a more attractive approach to combatting climate change. Learn more here.