Gradual H D substitution in synthetic germanium bearing talcs: a method for infrared band assignment

The deuteration technique was used to assign unknown infrared (IR) bands of Ge-bearing talcs. Procedures to achieve partial or complete H/D replacemen t in synthetic Ge-bearing (Mg, Ni and Co)-talcs have been investigated. Fro m the spectral shift of IR absorption bands in the 4000-300 cm(-1) region r esulting from the H-D substitution, the IR bands of vibrations of Ge-bearin g talcs could be identified and synthetic Ge-bearing talcs showed significa ntly different IR spectra from those for Si-talcs. After deuteration of syn thetic Ge-bearing talcs, the unknown bands were attributed either to hydrox yl groups or to Ge-O vibrations of the clay skeleton, and the spectra were interpreted fully.