Influences of micropores and water molecules in the palygorskite structure on the color and stability of Maya blue pigment

Maya blue is an ancient hybrid pigment composed of indigo and microporous palygorskite, with a fantastic hue and outstanding stability. Its color-causing and stabilization mechanism are unsolved problems. In this work, different palygorskite materials were obtained by heating at 180, 300 and 570 degrees C, with raw palygorskite as a reference. Maya blue-like pigments were prepared from these palygorskite materials and solid indigo. The microporous structure of palygorskite and the status of inside water molecules were investigated by thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared and microporous analysis. The color properties, chemical resistance and photostability of pigments were characterized by reflectance spectra, CIE color parameters and color differences after the attack of concentrated nitric acid, dimethyl sulfoxide, and visible light exposure equaling to about 100 years. It was confirmed that the greenish-blue and stable hybrid pigment could only be prepared when indigo molecules were inserted into the micropores of palygorskite. Zeolitic water molecules inside the micropores should be removed because they hindered the insertion of indigo molecules. The key to immobilizing indigo molecules inside micropores was hydrogen bonds between indigo and coordinated water (C=O center dot center dot center dot center dot center dot center dot H-OH). This study emphasized the important role of micropores and hydrogen bonds in the synthesis of organic-inorganic hybrid pigments.

Automated summary

This study investigates the synthesis mechanism of Maya blue pigment and confirms that the key to the formation of greenish-blue and stable pigment by inserting indigo molecules into the micropores of palygorskite is to remove zeolitic water molecules and form stable structures through hydrogen bonds between indigo and coordinated water.