Publications
2026
Spatial Relations between Coccoliths and Their Confining Membrane During Crystal Morphogenesis
Emanuel M. Avrahami, D. Karpov, L. Aram, N. Elad, R. Safadi, I. Rosenhek-Goldian, X. M. Sui, D. de Haan, N. Varsano, S. R. Cohen, I. Zlotnikov, A. Gal
JACS, accepted (2026)
Wavefront Engineering and Polarization Dynamics in Biological Glass Fibers
K. M. M. Goeloe, I. Zlotnikov, L. V. Amitonova
ACS Appl. Opt. Mater., 4 (2), 421–428 (2026)
Anisotropic Shear Properties of Organic Interfaces in Bio-composite Materials
K. Tadayon, B. Bar-On*, I. Zlotnikov*
Adv. Funct. Mater., 36 (12), e12340 (2026)
2025
Classical View on Nonclassical Crystal Growth in a Biological Setting
R.J. Best, D. Stier, L. Kuhrts, I. Zlotnikov*
JACS 147 (1), 1-9 (2025)
2024
Synthesis of Cellulose Acetate Butyrate Microspheres as Precursor for Hard Carbon-Based Electrodes in Symmetric Supercapacitors
J. Fischer, K. Thümmler, I. Zlotnikov, D. Mikhailova, S. Fischer
Polymers, 16 (15), 2176 (2024)
Elastic constants of biogenic calcium carbonate
R. J. Best, A. Sotnikov, H. Schmidt*, I. Zlotnikov*
JMBBM, 155, 106570 (2024)
Physical phenomena governing mineral morphogenesis in molluscan nacre
L. Gránásy, L. Rátkai, I. Zlotnikov, T. Pusztai
Small 20 (5), 2304183 (2024)
2023
Nanoscale dynamic mechanical analysis on interfaces of biological composites
O. Braunshtein, L. Levavi, I. Zlotnikov, B. Bar-On
JMBBM 146, 106091 (2023)
In-situ nanoindentation at elevated humidities
K. Tadayon, B. Bar-On, B. Günther, C. Vogel, I. Zlotnikov*
Adv. Mater. Interfaces 10 (33), 2300459 (2023)
Fractal-like geometry as an evolutionary response to predation?
R. Lemanis, I. Zlotnikov
Sci. Adv. 9 (30), eadh0480 (2023)
Recruiting unicellular algae for the mass production of nanostructured perovskites
L. Kuhrts, L. Helmbrecht, W. Noorduin, D. Pohl, X. Sun, A. Palatnik, C. Wetzker, A. Jantschke, M. Schlierf, I. Zlotnikov*
Adv. Sci. 10 (11), 2300355 (2023)
2022
Wet shells and dry tales: the evolutionary “Just-So” stories behind the structure-function of biominerals
R. Lemanis*, K. Tadayon, E. Reich, G. Joshi, R. J. Best, K. Stevens, I. Zlotnikov*
J. R. Soc. Interface 19 (191), 20220336 (2022)
Untangling the mechanisms of lattice distortions in biogenic crystals across scales
V. Schoeppler, P. K. Cook, C. Detlefs, R. Demichelis, I. Zlotnikov*
Adv. Mater. 2200690 (2022)
Semi-empirical formulation of contact with an interphase boundary
K. Tadayon, R. Lemanis, B. Bar-On, I. Zlotnikov*
Extreme Mech. Lett. 50, 101541 (2022)
2021
Crystallization by amorphous particle attachment: On the evolution of texture
V. Schoeppler, D. Stier, R.J. Best, C. Song, J. Turner, B. Savitzky, C. Ophus, M.A. Marcus, S. Zhao, K. Bustilo, I. Zlotnikov*
Adv. Mater. 2101358 (2021)
Phase-field modeling of biomineralization in mollusks and corals: Microstructure vs. formation mechanism
L. Gránásy, L. Rátkai, G.I. Tóth, PUPA Gilbert, I. Zlotnikov, T. Pusztai
J. Am. Chem. Soc. Au 1 (7), 1014–1033 (2021)
Dynamics of Topological Defects and Structural Synchronization in a Forming Periodic Tissue
M. Beliaev, D. Zöllner, A. Pacureanu, P. Zaslansky, I. Zlotnikov*
Nat. Phys. 17, 410–415 (2021)
2020
Natural hybrid silica/protein superstructure at atomic resolution
S. Görlich , A. J. Samuel, R. J. Best, R. Seidel, J. Vacelet, F. K. Leonarski, T. Tomizaki, B. Rellinghaus, D. Pohl, I. Zlotnikov*
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 117 (49), 31088-31093 (2020)
The role of mural mechanics on cephalopod palaeoecology
R. Lemanis, D. Stier, I. Zlotnikov, P. Zaslansky, D. Fuchs
J. R. Soc. Interface 17 (164), 20200009 (2020)
Quantification of sheet nacre morphogenesis using X-ray nanotomography and deep learning
M. Beliaev, D. Zöllner, A. Pacureanu, P. Zaslansky, L. Bertinetti, I. Zlotnikov*
J. Struct. Biol. 209 (1), 107432 (2020)
2019
Crystal growth kinetics as an architectural constraint on the evolution of molluscan shells
V. Schoeppler, R. Lemanis, E. Reich, T. Pusztai, L. Gránásy, I. Zlotnikov*
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 116 (41), 20388-20397 (2019)
High-throughput segmentation of tiled biological structures using random walk distance transforms
D. Baum, J. C. Weaver, I. Zlotnikov, D. Knötel, L. Tomholt, M. N. Dean
Integr. Comp. Biol. icz117 (2019)
Texture controlled grain growth in thin films studied by 3D Potts model
D. Zöllner, I. Zlotnikov
Adv. Theory Simul. 1900064 (2019)
Topological transitions: A topological random walk or pure geometric necessity?
D. Zöllner, P. R. Rios, I. Zlotnikov
Comput. Mater. Sci. 166, 42-56 (2019)
Control of biosilica morphology and mechanical performance by the conserved diatom gene Silicanin-1
S. Görlich, D. Pawolski, I. Zlotnikov, N. Kröger
Commun. Biol. 2, 245 (2019)
Biomineralized tissue formation as an archetype of ideal grain growth
D. Zöllner, I. Zlotnikov*
Mater. Horizons 6, 751-757 (2019)
Morphological and textural evolution of the prismatic ultrastructure in mollusc shells: A comparative study of Pinnidae species
E. Reich, V. Schoeppler, R. Lemanis, E. Lakin, E. Zolotoyabko, D. Zöllner, I. Zlotnikov*
Acta Biomater. 85, 272-281 (2019)
2018
Biomineralization as a paradigm of directional solidification: A physical model for molluscan shell ultrastructural morphogenesis
V. Schoeppler, L. Gránásy, E. Reich, N. Poulsen, R. de Kloe, P. Cook, A. Rack, T. Pusztai, I. Zlotnikov*
Adv. Mater. 1803855 (2018)
Modelling texture dependent grain growth by 2D Potts model simulations: A detailed analysis
D. Zöllner, I. Zlotnikov
Comput. Mater. Sci. 155, 180-196 (2018)
Finite element analysis as a method to study molluscan shell mechanics
R. Lemanis*, I. Zlotnikov*
Adv. Eng. Mater. 20 (3), 1700939 (2018)
2017
Shaping highly regular glass architectures: A lesson from nature
V. Schoeppler, E. Reich, J. Vacelet, M. Rosenthal, A. Pacureanu, A. Rack, P. Zaslansky, E. Zolotoyabko, I. Zlotnikov*
Sci. Adv. 3 (10), eaao2047 (2017)
Mesocrystalline calcium silicate hydrate: A bioinspired route towards elastic concrete materials
A. Picker, L. Nicoleau, Z. Burghard, J. Bill, I. Zlotnikov, C. Labbez, A. Nonat, H. Cölfen
Sci. Adv. 3 (11), e1701216 (2017)
Morphogenesis of biomineralized calcitic prismatic tissue in Mollusca fully described by classical hierarchical grain boundary motion
D. Zöllner, E. Reich, I. Zlotnikov*
Cryst. Growth Des., 17 (10), 5023–5027 (2017)
Materials nanoarchitecturing via cation-mediated protein assembly: making limpet teeth without mineral
T. Ukmar-Godec, L. Bertinetti, J. W. C. Dunlop, A. Godec, M. A. Grabiger, A. Masic, H. Nguyen, I. Zlotnikov, P. Zaslansky, D. Faivre
Adv. Mater. 29, 1701171 (2017)
Feature Article: Thermodynamic aspects of molluscan shell ultrastructural morphogenesis
I. Zlotnikov*, V. Schoeppler
Adv. Func. Mater. 27, 1700506 (2017)
Nano-scale modulus mapping of biological composite materials: theory and practice
I. Zlotnikov*, E. Zolotoyabko, P. Fratzl
Prog. Mater. Sci. 87, 292-320 (2017)
2016
Micromechanical properties of strain-sensitive lyriform organs of a wandering spider (C. salei)
S. L. Young, M. Chyasnavichyus, F. G. Barth, I. Zlotnikov, Y, Politi, V. V. Tsukruk
Acta Biomater. 41, 40-51 (2016)
Gas barrier properties of bio-inspired Laponite–LC polymer hybrid films
U. Tritschler, I. Zlotnikov, P. Fratzl, H. Schlaad, S. Grüner , H. Cölfen
Bioinspir. Biomim. 11 (3), 035005 (2016)
Inherent role of water in damage tolerance of the prismatic mineral-organic biocomposite in the shell of Pinna nobilis
B. Bayerlein, L. Bertinetti, B. Bar-On, H. Blumtritt, P. Fratzl, I. Zlotnikov*
Adv. Func. Mater. 26 (21), 3663–3669 (2016)
2015
Dynamic response of a single interface in a biocomposite structure
B. Bar-On, B. Bayerlein, H. Blumtritt, I. Zlotnikov*
Phys. Rev. Lett. 115 (23), 238001 (2015)
Eshelby Twist as a Possible Source of Lattice Rotation in a Perfectly Ordered Protein/Silica Structure Grown by a Simple Organism
I. Zlotnikov*, P. Werner, P. Fratzl, E. Zolotoyabko
Small 11 (42), 5636–5641 (2015)
Characterizing moisture-dependent mechanical properties of organic materials: humidity controlled static and dynamic nanoindentation of wood cell walls
L. Bertinetti, U. D. Hangen, M. Eder, P. Leibner, P. Fratzl, I. Zlotnikov*
Phil. Mag. 95 (16-18), 1992-1998 (2015)
Electron microscope analyses of the bio-silica basal spicule from the M. chuni sponge
P. Werner, H. Blumtritt, I. Zlotnikov, A. Graff, Y. Dauphin, P. Fratzl
J. Struct. Biol. 191 (2), 165-174 (2015)
Micro- and nano-structural details of the spider’s mechanical vibration filter. Relevance for low frequency signal transmission
M. Erko, O. Y. Metzler, A. Rack, P. Zaslansky, S. L. Young, G. Milliron, M. Chyasnavichyus, F. G. Barth, P. Fratzl, V. Tsukruk, I. Zlotnikov, Y. Politi
J. R. Soc. Interface 12 (104), 20141111 (2015)
2014
Self-similar mesostructure evolution of the growing mollusc shell reminiscent of thermodynamically driven grain growth
B. Bayerlein, P. Zaslansky, Y. Dauphin. A. Rack, P. Fratzl, I. Zlotnikov*
Nat. Mater. 13 (12), 1102-1107 (2014)
A perfectly periodic three-dimensional protein/silica mesoporous structure produced by an organism
I. Zlotnikov*, P. Werner, H. Blumtritt, A. Graff, Y. Dauphin, E. Zolotoyabko, P. Fratzl
Adv. Mater. 26 (1), 1682-1687 (2014)
Hierarchically structured vanadium pentoxide–polymer hybrid materials
U. Tritschler, I. Zlotnikov (equal contribution), P. Zaslansky, P. Fratzl, H. Schlaad, H. Cölfen
ACS Nano 8 (5), 5089-5104 (2014)
Optical properties of self-organized gold nanorod-polymer hybrid films
U. Tritschler, I. Zlotnikov, P. Keckeis, H. Schlaad, H. Cölfen
Langmuir 30 (46), 4832-4842 (2014)
Composition and mechanical properties of a protein/silica hybrid material forming the micron-thick axial filament in the spicules of marine sponges
I. Zlotnikov*, A. Masic, Y. Dauphin, P. Fratzl, E. Zolotoyabko
Adv. Eng. Mater. 16 (9), 1073-1077 (2014)
Nanoscale elastic modulus mapping revisited: The concept of effective mass
I. Zlotnikov*, P. Fratzl, E. Zolotoyabko
J. Appl. Phys. 116 (11), 114308 (2014)
A spider’s biological vibration filter: micromechanical characteristics of a biomaterial surface
S. L. Young, M. Chyasnavichyus, M. Erko, F. G. Barth, P. Fratzl, I. Zlotnikov, Y. Politi, V. V. Tsukruk
Acta Biomater. 10 (11), 4832-4842 (2014)
Nanostructure of biogenic calcite and its modification under annealing: Study by high-resolution X-ray diffraction and nanoindentation
T. H. Metzger, Y. Politi G. Carbone, B. Bayerlein, I. Zlotnikov, E. Zolotoyabko, P. Fratzl
Cryst. Growth Des. 14 (10), 5275-5282 (2014)
2013
I. Zlotnikov, D. Shilo, Y. Dauphin, H. Blumtritt, P. Werner, E. Zolotoyabko and P. Fratzl, “In situ elastic modulus measurements of ultrathin protein-rich organic layers in biosilica: towards deeper understanding of superior resistance to fracture of biocomposites”, RSC Adv. 3, 5798-5802 (2013).
U. Tritschler, I. Zlotnikov, P. Zaslansky, B. Aichmayer, P. Fratzl, H. Schlaad, and H. Cölfen, “Hierarchical structuring of liquid crystal polymer–laponite hybrid materials”, Langmuir 29 (35), 11093-11101 (2013).
M. Erko, M. A. Hartmann, I. Zlotnikov, C. Valverde Serrano, P. Fratzl, and Y. Politi, “Structural and mechanical properties of the arthropod cuticle: Comparison between the fang of the spider Cupiennius salei and the carapace of American lobster Homarus americanus”, J. Struct. Biol. 183 (2), 172-179 (2013).
2012
A. S. Schenk, I. Zlotnikov, B. Pokroy, N. Gierlinger, A. Masic, P. Zaslansky, A. N. Fitch, O. Paris, T. H. Metzger, H. Cölfen, P. Fratzl, and B. Aichmayer, “Hierarchical calcite crystals with occlusions of a simple polyelectrolyte mimic complex biomineral structures”, Adv. Func. Mater. 22 (22), 4668-4676 (2012).
2011
I. Zlotnikov, H. Drezner, D. Shilo, B. Aichmayer, Y. Dauphin, E. Zolotoyabko and P. Fratzl, “Mapping nanomechanical properties near internal interfaces in biological materials”, MRS Proceedings 1345 (2011).
2010
I. Zlotnikov, A. Dorogoy, D. Shilo, I. Gotman and E.Y. Gutmanas, “Nanoindentation, modeling, and toughening effects of zirconia/organic nanolaminates”, Adv. Eng. Mater. 12 (9), 935-94 (2010).
I. Zlotnikov, I. Gotman, J. Bill, Z. Burghard and E.Y. Gutmanas, “Synthesis and mechanical behavior of bioinspired ZrO2-organic nacre-like laminar nanocomposites”, Colloids Surf., A 361, 138-142 (2010).
2008
I. Zlotnikov, I. Gotman and E.Y. Gutmanas, “Characterization and nanoindentation testing of thin ZrO2 films synthesized using layer-by-layer (LbL) deposited organic templates”, Appl. Sur. Sci. 255 (5), 3447-3453 (2008).
2005
I. Zlotnikov, I. Gotman and E.Y. Gutmanas, “Combustion synthesis of dense functionally graded B4C reinforced composites”, Materials Science Forum 492-493: Functionally Graded Materials VIII, 685-692 (2005).
I. Zlotnikov, I. Gotman and E.Y. Gutmanas, “Processing of dense bulk MgB2 superconductor via pressure-assisted thermal explosion mode of SHS”, J. Eur. Cer. Soc. 25 (15), 3517-3522 (2005).
2003
I. Zlotnikov, I. Gotman and E.Y. Gutmanas, “Reactive processing of dense MgB2 superconductor from Mg-2B powder blend”, J. SHS 12 (4), 295-302 (2003).