Diatom cells grown and baked on a functionalized mica surface.

We demonstrate the cultivation of diatom cells on a functionalized mica surface and the preparation of frustules on a mica surface by baking. Diatom cells were successfully grown on a mica surface treated with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. After baking at 400 degrees C for 2 h, frustule structures without the organic components of the diatom cells were successfully observed by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Furthermore, the frustules deformed and became slender when a sample was baked at 800 degrees C for 2 h. Our method is effective for the direct characterization of frustule structures and physical properties without changing the configuration of the diatom cells grown on the mica surface.