BIOMIMETIC CONTROL OF IRON-OXIDE AND HYDROXIDE PHASES IN THE IRON OXALATE SYSTEM

The syntheses of mineral phases of iron formed under hydrolytic condit ions have been studied using ambient and hydrothermal methods in the p resence and absence of the oxalate (ox) template. A systematic survey of experimental parameters revealed how the oxolate template can influ ence crystal morphology, iron oxidation state and the nature of the ph ase formed. In addition to observing biomimetic control over crystal m orphology of magnetite, two iron(II) hydrolytic oxalate phases were ob served, humboldtine, Fe-II(ox)(H2O)(2), and the new phase, Fe-2(II)(ox )(OH)(2), which was identified by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.