Cubic calcium carbonate nanoparticles with hydrophobic properties were prepared by a carbonation route in the presence of dodecanoic acid at 20 degrees C. The as-prepared products were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and contact angle analysis. It was found that dodecanoic acid not only inhibited the growth of CaCO3 particles but also changed the surface properties of the final products. The effects of the weight ratio of DA to CaCO3, the calcium hydroxide concentration and temperature on the morphologies of the as-prepared calcium carbonate were systematically studied. The results showed that temperature, the weight ratio of DA to CaCO3 and the calcium hydroxide concentration are important parameters for the preparation of cubic calcium carbonate nanoparticles with hydrophobic properties. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.