Magnesiothermic conversion of the silica-mineralizing golden algae Mallomonas caudata and Synura petersenii to elemental silicon with high geometric precision

• Janina Petrack,
• Steffen Jost,
• Jens Boenigk and
• Matthias Epple

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 554–560, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.65

• petersenii into elementary silicon by magnesium vapour, nanostructured defined replicates were produced which were clearly seen after removal of the formed magnesium oxide with acid. Keywords: biomineralization; golden algae; magnesiothermic conversion; silica; silicon; Introduction In nature, there are

• the magnesiothermic conversion route is well suited also for golden algae with their special skeletal features like rods and porous shells. Experimental Cultivation of Mallomonas caudata and Synura petersenii We used the synurophytes Synura petersenii, strain WA18K-A, and Mallomonas sp., strain WA40K