%0 Online Multimedia %A Younis, Saeed %A Kauffmann, Yaron %A Bloch, Leonid %A Zolotoyabko, Emil %D 2012 %T Inhomogeneity of Nacre Lamellae on the Nanometer Length Scale %U https://acs.figshare.com/articles/media/Inhomogeneity_of_Nacre_Lamellae_on_the_Nanometer_Length_Scale/2490661 %R 10.1021/cg3007734.s001 %2 https://acs.figshare.com/ndownloader/files/4133461 %K inclusion %K evidence %K interrelation %K mollusk %K Nanometer Length ScaleWe %K canaliculu %K depletion %K nacre layer %K aragonitic %K Nacre %K Perna %K annular %K intracrystalline %K Lamellae %K Inhomogeneity %K aid %K field scanning transmission electron microscopy %K mode %K nm %K electron tomography reconstructions %K lamellae %K inhomogeneity %K mussel %X We present experimental evidence of inhomogeneous distribution of organic inclusions within individual aragonitic lamellae forming the nacre layer of mollusk shells. This nanoscale-inhomogeneity is visualized in the Perna canaliculus (green mussel) shells by the aid of high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) in the tomography mode. Electron tomography reconstructions of the three-dimensional distribution of intracrystalline organic inclusions, ranging in size between 2 to 25 nm, clearly reveal 50 nm wide depletion zones adjacent to the organic sheets between lamellae. The interrelation between the observed fine-scale inhomogeneity of nacre layer and its improved mechanical properties is discussed. %I ACS Publications