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Science 12 July 1996:
Vol. 273. no. 5272, pp. 223 - 225
DOI: 10.1126/science.273.5272.223
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Reports

Maya Blue Paint: An Ancient Nanostructured Material

M. José-Yacamán, * Luis Rendón, J. Arenas, Mari Carmen Serra Puche

Maya blue paint was often used in Mesoamerica. The origin of its color and its resistance to acids and biocorrosion have not been fully understood. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, and x-ray microanalysis studies of authentic samples show that palygorskite crystals in the paint form a superlattice that probably occurs as a result of mixing with indigo molecules. An amorphous silicate substrate contains inclusions of metal nanoparticles encapsulated in the substrate and oxide nanoparticles on the surface. The beautiful tone of the color is obtained only when both the particles and the superlattice are present.

M. José-Yacamán and L. Rendón, Instituto de Física, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo. Postal 20-364, Delegación Alvaro Obregón, 01000 México, D.F., México.
J. Arenas, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares, Carr. México-Toluca Km. 36.5, 52045 Salazar Edo. de México.
M. C. Serra Puche, Museo Nacional de Antropología, Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, Paseo de la Reforma y Gandhi s/n, Polanco, 11560 México, D.F., México.
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: yacaman{at}sysul1.ifisicacu.unam.mx


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction study of the structure and dehydration behavior of palygorskite.
J. E. Post and P. J. Heaney (2008)
American Mineralogist 93, 667-675
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Magnetic field-induced assembly of oriented superlattices from maghemite nanocubes.
A. Ahniyaz, Y. Sakamoto, and L. Bergstrom (2007)
PNAS 104, 17570-17574
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Crystal structure refinement of Maya Blue pigment prepared with deuterated indigo, using neutron powder diffraction.
R. GIUSTETTO, D. LEVY, and G. CHIARI (2006)
European Journal of Mineralogy 18, 629-640
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
DEHYDRATION AND REHYDRATION OF PALYGORSKITE AND THE INFLUENCE OF WATER ON THE NANOPORES.
W. Kuang, W. Kuang, G. A. Facey, and C. Detellier (2004)
Clays and Clay Minerals 52, 635-642
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
STRUCTURAL STUDY OF MAYA BLUE: TEXTURAL, THERMAL AND SOLID-STATE MULTINUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE PALYGORSKITE-INDIGO AND SEPIOLITE-INDIGO ADDUCTS.
B. Hubbard, B. Hubbard, W. Kuang, A. Moser, G. A. Facey, and C. Detellier (2003)
Clays and Clay Minerals 51, 318-326
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Crystal structure refinements of palygorskite and Maya Blue from molecular modelling and powder synchrotron diffraction.
G. CHIARI, R. GIUSTETTO, and G. RICCHIARDI (2003)
European Journal of Mineralogy 15, 21-33
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


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