Interlayer porosity in montmorillonite intercalated with Keggin-like cation studied by molecular mechanics simulation

Molecular mechanics simulation using Cerius(2) modeling environment have been used to investigate the structure of montmorillonite, intercalated with Keggin-like cation(7+). Present work is focused to the strategy of modelling in case of intercalated layered structures and to investigation of structure parameters characterizing the interlayer porosity, that means: the interlayer distance, the position, orientation and distribution of Keggin cations in the interlayer space and the stacking of layers. Molecular simulations revealed the structure of the interlayer and led to the following conclusions: In the most stable configuration the 3-fold axis of Keggin cation is perpendicular to the silicate layer. This orientation of Keggin cations leads to the basal spacing 19.51 (10(-10) m). Energy minimization during the translation of Keggin cation along the silicate layer gives only small fluctuations of basal spacing and no correlation has been found between the shift of cation along the layers and the value of basal spacing. No systematic relationship has been found between the shift of cation and crystal energy and no systematic relationship exists between the mutual shift of two successive layers and the values of basal spacing and crystal energy. Consequently, no two-dimensional ordering of Keggin cations in the interlayer and no regular stacking of layers can be expected. X-ray diffraction diagrams obtained for montmorillonites, intercalated with Keggin cation, confirm present conclusions.