The influence of the types of interlayer cations on organic intercalation of montmorillonite (Mt) was studied in this paper. The distribution of Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+ and Fe3+ in montmorillonite interlayer, their interaction with structure layers and the effect of interlayer cations on the basal spacing of Mt, the amount of binding water for different interlayer cations and the binding force between them were investigated systematically. 1-Hexadecy1-3-methylimidazolium chloride monohydrate (C(16)mimCl) was intercalated into montmorillonites with different interlayer cations. The influence of interlayer cations on organic intercalation was investigated. Molecular dynamics (MD) modeling was used to speculate the interlayer microstructures of the organically intercalated Mt with different interlayer cations. These simulations help to predict the microstructure of organo-Mt and guide their relevant engineering applications. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.