Figure 1

Simulation cell of mica pore containing two mica surfaces (on left and right) confining water molecules, and interstitial cations. The interlayer zone of width d is in equilibrium with bulk-reservoir of water (implicitly) which allows for exchange of water molecules between pore and reservoir. Color legend: Gray—potassium (K), red—Oxygen (O), green—aluminum (Al), yellow—silicon (Si), cyan—exchanged interstitial cation (i.e., either sodium, lithium or hydrogen ion) and water—licorice.