Calcium carbonate nanotablets: bridging artificial to natural nacre.

Single-crystalline CaCO(3) nanotablets are synthesized in large quantities through oriented attachment of pristine nanoparticles. The prepared nanotablets can serve as genuine building blocks for the construction of nacreous inorganic-organic hybrids, through which freestanding films and monoliths with tunable composition and mechanical properties are fabricated. These newly available CaCO(3) crystal tablets may also serve as a starting platform for future CaCO(3) research.