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More recent APS results: |
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Structure of the Orthoclase-Water Interface: |
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This structure is based on x-ray specular reflectivity data for the orthoclase(001)-water interface (Fenter et al., Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 64 3663-3673 (2000)). It shows that the surface is terminated by closed tetrahedral rings, the tetrahedral bonds broken to create the surface are saturated by oxygen atoms (or hydroxyl groups since the x-rays are insensitive to hydrogen), and the top-layer potassium atoms are removed after brief contact with DI-water. Maximum atomic relaxations near the surface are ~0.15 ‰, and relaxations penetrate ~25 ‰ into the crystal. |
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AFM Image of the Orthoclase-Water Interface: |
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This atomic force microscopy image of the orthoclase(001)-water interface shows that the as-cleaved orthoclase surface is very flat with individual unit-cell high steps separating micron-sized terraces (Fenter et al., Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 64, 3663-3673 (2000)). |
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