Spectroscopic Studies of Azul Maya: Novel Organic/Inorganic Complexes

Maya pigments are novel organic/inorganic hybrid materials with multiple technological applications. The materials are surface compounds formed by heating an organic molecule such as indigo with an inorganic compound such as palygorskite, which is a common clay. The organic molecule upon heating forms a strong interaction with the clay surface stabilizing both entities. This strong interaction is exhibited through a color change from deep blue to the well-known Maya Blue indicating an exchange of electron density at the surface. Analysis by infrared absorption and Raman spectroscopy demonstrate the disappearance of nitrogen-hydrogen (N-H) bonding, as the indigo molecule incorporates into the inorganic palygorskite material. Infrared data confirm the loss of zeolitic water and a partial removal of structural water after the heating process. Carbon and oxygen studies at Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory by X-Ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS), respectively, suggest possible cationic (Al$^{+3})$ bonding of the organic molecule to palygorskite compound.