In these volumes,we focus on construction of organic–inorganic hybrid materialswith
controlledmineralization inspired by natural biomineralization. In
thefirstvolume, thereaderwillfindcontributionsprovidingabasicscopeof the
mineralization process in aqueous solution. The first chapter by Marc Fricke
and Dirk Volkmer introduceMollusk shell formation, crystallization of CaCO3
underneath monolayer via epitaxial and non-epitaxial growth. Hiroaki Imai
describes hierarchically structured crystals formed through self-organization
in solution systems. A wide variety of complex morphologies including fractals,
dendrites, and self-similar structures are reviewed. Fluoratite-gelatine
nanocomposites, reviewed by Rüdiger Kniep and Paul Simon, are suited to
obtaining deeper insight into processes of self-organization, and can help to
learn about essentials in the formation of inorganic–organic nanocomposites
of biological relevance.