Submicrometer-sized vaterite tubes formed through nanobubble-templated crystal growth

Electrolytic deposition is used to prepare submicrometer-sized vaterite (CaCO3) tubes (see Figure) in the absence of organic molecules, the presence of which was previously thought to be necessary for the growth of calcium carbonate crystals in complex morphologies. The mechanism of formation is shown experimentally to be hydrogen-nanobubble-templated crystal growth.