Metal ion-exchange on the muscovite mica surface

•Mica surface ions were exchanged for Ag, Ca, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Co, and Cd.•The metal ions remain at the surface after washing with water.•No counter ions are present after metal ion exchange. The surface potassium ions of muscovite mica were exchanged for several different metal ions from aqueous solution (Ag, Ca, V, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Co, and Cd). The surfaces were rinsed in water, dried under nitrogen atmosphere, and subsequently analysed using atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and, for half the systems, surface X-ray diffraction (SXRD). XPS and SXRD confirmed the presence of the different metal ions at the muscovite mica surface, with a partial monolayer of the monovalent and divalent ions present on the surface. No counter ions from the used salts were detected. AFM revealed that Ni-, and Fe-terminated muscovite mica surfaces were partially covered by nanoparticles, most likely consisting of metal (hydr)oxide. The exchanged ions remained on the surface after rinsing with ultra pure water three times. SXRD showed that Cd and Ag have a lower affinity for the muscovite mica surface than Cu, Ca, and Mn. [Display omitted]