From salt water to bioceramics: Mimic nature through pressure-controlled hydration and crystallization

Modern synthetic technology generally invokes high temperatures to control the hydration level of ceramics, but even the state-of-the-art technology can still only control the overall hydration content. Magically, natural organisms can produce bioceramics with tailorable hydration profiles and crystallization traits solely from amorphous precursors under physiological conditions. To mimic the biomineralization tactic, here, we report pressure-controlled hydration and crystallization in fabricated ceramics, solely from the amorphous precursors of purely inorganic gels (PIGs) synthesized from biocompatible aqueous solutions with most common ions in organisms (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, CO₃^2-, and PO₄^3-). Transparent ceramic tablets are directly produced by compressing the PIGs under mild pressure, while the pressure regulates the hydration characteristics and the subsequent crystallization behaviors of the synthesized ceramics. Among the various hydration species, the moderately bound and ordered water appears to be a key in regulating the crystallization rate. This nature-inspired study offers deeper insights into the magic behind biomineralization.