Surface Charge Measurements with Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy Provide Insights into Nitrous Acid Speciation at the Kaolin Mineral-Air Interface.

ABSTRACT: Unique surface properties of aluminosilicate clay minerals arise from anisotropic distribution of surface charge across their layered structures. Yet, a molecular-level understanding of clay mineral surfaces has been hampered by the lack of analytical techniques capable of measuring surface charges at the nanoscale. This is important for understanding the reactivity, colloidal stability, and ion-exchange capacity properties of clay minerals, which constitute a major fraction of global soils. In this work, scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) is used for the first time to visualize the surface charge and topography of dickite, a well-ordered member of the kaolin subgroup of clay minerals. Dickite displayed a pH-independent negative charge on basal surfaces whereas the positive charge

SUBMITTER: Zhu C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9277718 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature