1. ABOUT THE DATASET -------------------- Title: Dataset for "Bio-Inspired Synthesis of Macroporous Single Crystal Particles as Scattering Agents" Creator(s): Stephanie E. Foster [1], Gianni Jacucci [2], Ouassef Nahi [1], Thomas Kress [2], Zabeada Aslam [1], Stuart Micklethwaite [1], Alexander N. Kulak [1], Rik Drummond-Brydson [1], Melinda J. Duer [2], Yi-Yeoun Kim [1], Silvia Vignolini [2,3] and Fiona C. Meldrum [1] Organisation(s): 1. University of Leeds, 2. University of Cambridge, 3. Max Planck Institute Rights-holder(s): Unless otherwise stated, Copyright 2026 University of Leeds Publication Year: 2026 Description: This is all the corresponding data for the paper below, which is about synthesising porous calcite crystals via an organic templating and removal method for the purpose of creating highly reflective bright white particles. This data includes images from imaging techiqnues such as optical microscopy, SEM, FIBSEM, and TEM, reflectance measurements, porosity analysis, analysis of the crystals using TGA and NMR. Cite as: Foster, Stephanie E. and Meldrum, Fiona (2026) Dataset for "Bio-Inspired Synthesis of Macroporous Single Crystal Particles as Scattering Agents". University of Leeds. [Dataset] https://doi.org/10.5518/1724. Related publication: S. E. Foster, G. Jacucci, O. Nahi, et al. Bio-Inspired Synthesis of Macroporous Single Crystal Particles as Scattering Agents. Advanced Functional Materials (2026): e76652. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.76652 Contact: s.e.foster@leeds.ac.uk 2. TERMS OF USE --------------- Copyright 2026 University of Leeds. Unless otherwise stated, this dataset is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. 3. PROJECT AND FUNDING INFORMATION ---------------------------------- Title: A Bio-Inspired Approach to Functional Composite Crystals Dates: Sept 2021 to Dec 2021 Funding organisation: EPSRC, Imerys Minerals Grant no.: EP/N509681/1 and NE/W503125/1, project reference 2090530 Title: Crystallisation in the Real World: Delivering Control through Theory and Experiment Dates: Mar 2018 to Feb 2024 Funding organisation: EPSRC Grant no.: EP/R018820/1 Title: Enabling precision engineering of complex chemical products for high value technology sectors Dates: Mar 2024 to Feb 2028 Funding organisation: EPSRC Grant no.: EP/X040992/1 Title: 3D Nanoscale chemical analysis: a FIBSEM-SIMS facility optimised for soft and composite materials Dates: Jun 21 to Jun 25 Funding organisation: EPSRC Grant no.: EP/V028855/1 Title: 3D Volume Microscopy and TEM Sample Preparation of Complex Hybrid Nanostructures Dates: Jun 16 to Jan 21 Funding organisation: EPSRC Grant no.: EP/P00122X/1 Title: Experimental Equipment Call - University of Leeds Dates: Mar 15 to Mar 16 Funding organisation: EPSRC Grant no.: EP/M028143/1 Title: EXTRacEllular matrix Mechanochemistry (EXTREME): a solid-state NMR approach Dates: Oct 2021 to Sept 2026 Funding organisation: ERC Grant no.: 101019499 Title: Oppenheimer Studentship Dates: Sept 2021 to Jun 2023 Funding organisation: University of Cambridge Grant no.: n/a Title: Sustainable routes for smart photonic materials Dates: Oct 2015 to Mar 2021 Funding organisation: ERC Grant no.: ERC-2014-STG H2020 639088 Title: Bio-derived and Bio-inspired Advanced Materials for Sustainable Industries (VALUED) Dates: Jan 23 to Dec 27 Funding organisation: EPSRC Grant no.: EP/W031019/1 4. CONTENTS ----------- File listing Folder: Amino Acid Quantification.zip Info on contents: This contains a subfolder with the raw fluorimetry assay files (.CSV and .XLSX files), the worksheet for calculating mole incorporation (.XLSX file), and the Origin file (.OPJU file) that has fitting graphs and the graphs of mole incorporation at each condition. Info on method: This analysis was performed according to the method outlined thoroughly in the Supporting Information of "Rapid Screening of Calcium Carbonate Precipitation in the Presence of Amino Acids: Kinetics, Structure, and Composition" David C. Green et al., Crystal Growth & Design 2016 16 (9), 5174-5183, DOI: 10.1021/acs.cgd.6b00741. A PerkinElmer EnVision 2103 was used and specific measurement parameters are captured within the respective raw files. Folder: SEM Images.zip Info on contents: This contains the SEM images (.TIF format) of pre- and post-annealed calcite-PS. Info on method: Samples prepared on clean glass slides and affixed to SEM stub with carbon paint, 4 nm Ir coating prior to SEM, details of SEM in publication and specific imaging conditions captured within the data bar in each image. Folder: FIBSEM Images.zip Info on contents: This contains the FIBSEM images (.TIF format) of all post-annealed crystals, including for each crystallisation conditions the "raw" image and the "segmented" image, which is the raw image following background removal and segmentation of the pore from the crystal. Info on method: Samples prepared on clean glass slides and affixed to SEM stub with carbon paint, 20 nm Ir coating prior to SEM, details of FIBSEM in publication and specific imaging conditions captured within the data bar in each image. Segmentation method described extensively in publication. Folder: Porosity Analysis.zip Info on contents: This contains a spreadsheet of pore properties for each crystal (.XLSX) and the Origin file (.OPJU file) containing all the plots of this data. Info on method: Described extensively in publication. Folder: FIBSEM 3D Datasets.zip Info on contents: This contains the FIBSEM Slice & View datasets for the calcite-PS crystal and the calcite-Asp crystal. In the calcite-PS folder, this contains the raw SEM images taken by the mirror and TLD detector (.TIF images), and a text file (.TXT) detailing the parameters of the Slice & View automation. In the calcite-Asp folder, this contains the raw images (.TIF images), and a text file (.TXT) detailing the parameters of the Slice & View automation. Info on method: Described extensively in the publication. Folder: TGA Data.zip Info on contents: This contains an Origin file (.OPJU) which contains the TGA data for a calcite control (Ca 10 mM, Asp 10 mM) and the plot of this. Info on method: Sample prepared as outlined in publication and TGA analysis parameters are captured within the note in the Origin file. Folder: Optical Properties Data.zip Info on contents: This contains all the data relating to optical properties, including: (1) Thickness Vs Int Reflectance Graphs (.OPJU) which contains the crystal thickness and integrated reflectance data for each crystal and the plots of these, and (2) Reflectance Spectra (.OPJU) which contains the reflectance spectra for each crystal, and (3) subfolder of MATLAB Raw Optical Data, containing the matlab script plus all associated files. Info on method: Outlined in the paper and the specific matlab script also contains all info on data collection of optical properties. Folder: TEM Data.zip Info on contents: This contains all of the TEM images collected during in-situ heating, organised into folders for two types of lamella heated (thin and stepped). All images are in .dm4 format and each folder has a corresponding .xlsx file which outlines the time and temperature that the sample was at for each image. Info on method: Outlined in the paper, metadata captured in the .dm4 files, and corresponding .XLSX file. Folder: Optical Microscopy Images Info on contents: This contains the optical microscope images for post-annealed calcite-PS crystals as .jpg and .bmp files. Info on method: Images taken at 50x magnification in reflectance mode. Folder: NMR Data Info on contents: This contains an Excel files (.xlsx) containing the results of the NMR analysis with the ppm data in the first column and the signal for each sample tested in the remaining columns. Info on method: Outlined in the paper. 5. METHODS ---------- For full method details please consult the publication and associated supplementary information.