Diatom frustules: nanostructures at the base of ocean food webs

分子与表面的相互作用是生物、化学和物理过程的基础，包括脱盐膜设计、芯片实验室系统、工业催化、生物修复、神经生理学和营养物质的吸收以并入食物网。在这里，我们使用硅藻作为分子-表面相互作用的模型，以找到支撑所有这些相互作用的基本原理。这项研究将培训学生和科学家，并与该领域的领先国际科学家建立合作关系。

Molecules interacting with surfaces are fundamental to biological, chemical and physical processes, including desalinization membrane design, lab-on-a-chip systems, industrial catalysis, bioremediation, neurophysiology and uptake of nutrients for incorporation into food webs. Here, we use diatoms as models for molecule-surface interactions to find basic principles that underlay all of these interactions. This research will train students and scientists and establish collaborations with leading international scientists in the field.