An x-ray diffraction and thermodynamic study of krypton and xenon adsorption in pillared clay

Abstract

X-ray diffraction and thermodynamic studies have been made upon adsorption of xenon and krypton in a pillared montmorillonite clay over a wide range of temperatures. Krypton forms within the interlamellar region an ordered «internal bilayer» at all temperatures and coverages but xenon forms sequentially a monolayer and then a bilayer. Evidence is found for a phase transition in the adsorbed xenon bilayer. The separation between pillars in the clays is estimated to be ca. 30 A