228 Recent Advances in Geochemistry Geology

Wednesday, 3 November 2010
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Room 205

IN SITU ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY (AFM) INVESTIGATIONS OF CLAY MINERAL SWELLING

Paper number: 228-12
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 10:45 AM – 11:00 AM

Authors

Abstract

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to observe the swelling behavior of single nontronite quasi-crystals in an aqueous environment. The nanometer-scale changes in the interlayer spacing were directly observed in situ during cation exchange processes. The basal spacings of multiple individual layers within the quasi-crystals were monitored as the chemical composition of the surrounding solution was manipulated, allowing the heterogeneity of swelling within each particle to be assessed. Acquisition of a series of images in continuous capture mode allows the rate of swelling change to be calculated.