Nanocomposites: Synthesis of Macroporous Calcium Carbonate/Magnetite Nanocomposites and their Application in Photocatalytic Water Splitting (Small 15/2011)

The cover picture shows the formation of highly hydrated and metastable calcium carbonate (CaCO3·6H2O) crystals containing carboxylated dextran-stabilized magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles. These crystals are microwave heated, the bound water and magnetite particles both acting as microwave absorbers. The water present is rapidly expelled as steam to form remarkable open-framework CaCO3 supports, decorated throughout with attached magnetite nanoparticles. These porous composite structures can act as functional catalysts, for example, as a self-buffering co-catalyst for visible light-driven water oxidation. For more information, please read the Communication “Synthesis of Macroporous Calcium Carbonate/Magnetite Nanocomposites and their Application in Photocatalytic Water Splitting” by D. Walsh, F. Meldrum, and co-workers, beginning on page 2168.