When protein-based biomineralization meets hydrothermal synthesis: the nanostructures of the as-prepared materials are independent of the protein types.

Proteins were proved to be type-independent templates for the biomineralization of iron ions into hematite mesocrystals with tunable structures and morphologies under hydrothemal conditions. Our finding could pave the way for the synthesis of mesocrystals with controlled stuctures and morphologies using templates of low-cost proteins.