Fluorine in Shark Teeth: Its Direct Atomic‐Resolution Imaging and Strengthening Function |
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| Authors: | Dr Chunlin Chen Prof Zhongchang Wang Dr Mitsuhiro Saito Dr Tetsuya Tohei Prof Yoshiro Takano Prof Yuichi Ikuhara |
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| Institution: | 1. WPI Research Center, Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, 2‐1‐1 Katahira, Aoba‐ku, Sendai 980‐8577 (Japan);2. Institute of Engineering Innovation, The University of Tokyo (Japan);3. Section of Biostructural Science, Graduate School of Tokyo Medical and Dental University (Japan);4. Nanostructures Research Laboratory (Japan) Fine Ceramics Center (Japan) |
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| Abstract: | Atomic‐resolution imaging of beam‐sensitive biominerals is extremely challenging, owing to their fairly complex structures and the damage caused by electron irradiation. Herein, we overcome these difficulties by performing aberration‐corrected electron microscopy with low‐dose imaging techniques, and report the successful direct atomic‐resolution imaging of every individual atomic column in the complex fluorapatite structure of shark tooth enameloid, which can be of paramount importance for teeth in general. We demonstrate that every individual atomic column in shark tooth enameloid can be spatially resolved, and has a complex fluorapatite structure. Furthermore, ab initio calculations show that fluorine atoms can be covalently bound to the surrounding calcium atoms, which improves understanding of their caries‐reducing effects in shark teeth. |
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| Keywords: | ab initio calculations biominerals ceramics electron microscopy |
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