Bonding and electron density distributions in layered silicate minerals

Layered silicate minerals play an important role in the transport/fixation of radionuclide contaminants. Interlayer charge distributions are know to have a substantial effect on the cation exchange capacity and of a particular 2:1 clay mineral. Little is known, howerver, regarding the actual distribution of charge within and at the surface of a rigid TOT layer. (more information available)