"Silica shells" refers to small protective coverings made of a mineral called silica. These shells can be found on tiny organisms such as diatoms or microscopic algae, and they serve to shield and support these organisms. Full definition
Researchers created melanin nanoparticles with silica shells as building blocks for structural colors. (sciencenews.org)
Diatoms are a favorite tool among ecological and evolutionary researchers because their hard silica shells are often well preserved — and they have been found in virtually every type of water body on Earth, both fresh and salt, from oceans to farm ponds, from the Great Lakes to the West African coast. (discovermagazine.com)
Silica shells also provide a surface that can be functionalized using well - understood chemical techniques. (sciencedaily.com)