On local structural changes in lizardite-1T: {Si4+/Al3+}, {Si4+/Fe3+}, [Mg2+/Al3+], [Mg2+/Fe3+] substitutions

Geometrical changes induced by cation substitutions {Si⁴⁺/Al³⁺}Mg²⁺/Al³⁺], {2Si⁴⁺/2Al³⁺} 2Mg²⁺/2Al³⁺], {Si⁴⁺/Fe³⁺} Mg²⁺/Al³⁺] or Mg²⁺/Fe³⁺], where {} and ] indicate tetrahedral and octahedral sheet in lizardite 1T, are studied by ab-initio quantum chemistry calculations. The majority of the models are based on the chemical compositions reported for various lizardite polytypes with the amount of Al in the tetrahedral sheets reported to vary from 3.5% to 8% in the 1T and 2H ₁, up to ~30% in the 2H ₂ polytype. Si⁴⁺ by Fe³⁺ substitution in the tetrahedral sheet with an Al³⁺ (Fe³⁺) in the role of a charge compensating cation in the octahedral sheet is also examined. The cation substitutions result in the geometrical changes in the tetrahedral sheets, while the octahedral sheets remain almost untouched. Substituted tetrahedra are tilted and their basal oxygens pushed down from the plane of basal oxygens. Ditrigonal deformation of tetrahedral sheets depends on the substituting cation and the degree of substitution.