Transitions of calcium carbonate crystals controlled by self-assembly supermolecule of β-cyclodextrin and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate

The transitions from vaterite to calcite and from vaterite to aragonite, were found with the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate and β-cyclodextrin as a template, respectively, when the experimental temperature was controlled at 90 °C. The transition from calcite to aragonite was found when the experimental temperature was controlled at 120 °C. The molar ratio of 1:1 and 1:2 supermolecules composed of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate ion and β-cyclodextrin molecule may be formed at 90 and 120 °C, respectively. The possible formation mechanisms of different CaCO3 polymorphs are proposed based on the “structural correspondence”.