THz-TDS of chemically modified natural or synthetic layered clay systems

THz optical constants were measured for layered clay minerals with different chemical compositions (kaolinite, hectorite and montmorillonite). Corresponding hybrid materials were prepared after chemical modification of parent clays with intercalation (using e.g. alkylamines or amino acids). The THz-TDS spectra showed clearly successful chemical modification of used clay minerals. This can be useful for the study of equilibrium processes, reactions or detection of organic molecules in the confined environment of interlayer space offered by these 2D layered silicates.