Journal of Physical Chemistry B, Vol.107, No.33, 8337-8342, 2003
Distribution of Si and Al in clintonites: A combined NMR and Monte Carlo study
The distribution of silicon and aluminum atoms over the tetrahedral sheets of clintonites (aluminum-rich phyllosilicates 2:1) has been studied by Si-29 and Al-27 magic-angle-spinning NMR spectroscopies. According to the Si-29 NMR spectra, no silicon atoms are present in adjacent tetrahedra; however, several environments have been detected in the Al-27 NMR signal, proving that these aluminosilicates do not adhere to Loewenstein's rule. The atom distribution has been simulated by a Monte Carlo procedure. From the results of these simulations, a further dispersion of silicon atoms over the tetrahedral sheets has been found, indicating a homogeneous dispersion of the electrostatic charge over the phyllosilicate layers. In contrast, a maximum dispersion of charges must be discarded in the layers of studied clintonites. Finally, an analysis of structural factors controlling this kind of cation distribution is given.