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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

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Atomic-scale structure of biogenic materials by total X-ray diffraction: a study of bacterial and fungal MnOx
V Petkov1, Y Ren, I Saratovsky
1Department of Physics, 203 Dow Science, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan 48859, USA. petkov@phy.cmich.edu
Abstract:
Biogenic materials are produced by microorganisms and are typically found in a nanophase state. As such, they are difficult to characterize structurally. In this report, we demonstrate how high-energy X-ray diffraction and atomic pair distribution function analysis can be used to determine the atomic-scale structures of MnO(x) produced by bacteria and fungi. These structures are well-defined, periodic, and species-specific, built of Mn-O(6) octahedra forming birnessite-type layers and todorokite-type tunnels, respectively. The inherent structural diversity of biogenic material may offer opportunities for practical applications.
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