Ion Transport in Single Crystals of the Clay-Like Aluminosilicate, Vermiculite

Abstract

AbstractWe have made an investigation of the ion transport properties of single crystals of the naturally occurring clay vermiculite in order to elucidate the mechanism of conductivity including the predominant charge carrier. Measurements of the ion conductivity, magnetic susceptibility and x-ray lattice parameters of ion-exchanged samples strongly suggest that the native cations and not protons are the major current carriers. We have synthesized the hydrogen form and found that it is a much preferred precursor for ion-exchange by other cations allowing the time necessary for ion-exchange to be reduced from several months to around a week.