Electrochemical Synthesis of Co-intercalation Compounds in the Graphite-H<Subscript>2</Subscript>SO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-H<Subscript>3</Subscript>PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>System

Anodic oxidation of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite in an electrolyte containing concentrated sulfuric and anhydrous phosphoric acids is studied for the first time. The synthesis was carried out under galvanostatic conditions at a current I = 0.5 mA and an elevated temperature (t = 80°C). Intercalation compounds of graphite (ICG) are shown to form at all concentration ratios of H₂SO₄ and H³PO⁴ acids. The intercalation compound of step I forms in solutions containing more than 80 wt % H₂SO₄, a mixture of compounds of intercalation steps I and II forms in 60% H²SO⁴, intercalation step II is realized in the sulfuric acid concentration range from 10 to 40%, and a mixture of compounds of intercalation steps III and II is formed in 5% H₂SO₄ solutions. The threshold concentration of H₂SO₄ intercalation is ∼2%. With the decrease in active intercalate (H₂SO₄) concentration, the charging curves are gradually smoothed, the intercalation step number increases, and the potentials of ICG formation also increase. As the sulfuric acid concentration in the electrolyte changes from 96 to 40 wt %, the filled-layer thickness d _i in ICG monotonously increases from 0.803 to 0.820 nm, which apparently is associated with the greater size of phosphoric acid molecules. With further increase in H₃PO₄ concentration in solution, d _i remains unchanged. According to the results of chemical analysis, both acids are simultaneously incorporated into the graphite interplanar spacing and their ratio in ICG is determined by the electrolyte composition.__________Translated from Elektrokhimiya, Vol. 41, No. 5, 2005, pp. 651–655.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Leshin, Sorokina, Avdeev.     

Facile preparation of graphite intercalation compounds in alkali solution

Graphite intercalation compounds are often prepared by flake graphite, oxidants, inorganic acids, organic acids and intercalated ions which are usually hydrogen protons between the graphene planes. They are also known as the acid-treated graphite intercalation compounds. In this work, alkaline graphite intercalation compounds were prepared by flake graphite, K₂Cr₂O₇, concentrated H₂SO₄ and NaOH, and the morphology and structure were characterized by Electron microscopy and X-ray techniques. The results display that the combination of neutralisation heat and oxidation capability produced by K₂Cr₂O₇ can break the bonds to produce the spaces between the graphene planes and hydroxyl ions also intercalate into the graphene planes to form alkaline graphite intercalation compounds in alkali solution. The morphology and structure of alkaline graphite intercalation compounds are analogous to the ones of the acid-treated graphite intercalation compounds, but the intercalated ions and the expansion volume are different. The results show that the method is an innovation.     

Analogies and differences between calcium-based and europium-based graphite intercalation compounds

An original method using lithium-based liquid alloys has been developed, allowing studies on bulk graphite intercalation compounds with calcium and europium. We showed that binary and ternary compounds belonging to graphite-lithium-calcium and graphite-lithium-europium systems are synthesized in both cases for equivalent reaction conditions but amazingly with many different structural and physical properties. Concerning CaC₆ and EuC₆, even if their 2D unit cells are hexal, their c-axis stacking sequences lead to different symmetries. Regarding kinetical data, formation mechanisms of these graphite intercalation compounds appear comparable however different, with a first common step before differenciation in the intercalation mechanism. Obviously, their physical properties are strongly different due to the nature of the intercalated metallic element. So, the different ternary compounds from these systems also show very considerable differences concerning their electronic properties: complex magnetic ordering for Eu-based ternary GIC and superconducting behaviour for Ca-based ternary GIC. However, common points are highlighted.     

Thermal exfoliation of electrochemically synthesized graphite intercalation compound with perrhenic acid

In present work, we describe the synthesis of graphite intercalation compounds with perrhenic acid (HReO₄-GIC) through the anodic oxidation of graphite in aqueous perrhenic acid solution and their thermal exfoliation. Due to electrochemical treatment of graphite in perrhenic acid solution, ReO₄⁻ ions are intercalated into interlayer spaces of graphite. Anodic oxidation of graphite in HReO₄ solution leads to the formation of 3-stage GIC. Simultaneously, some amount of perrhenic acid becomes deposited on the graphite surface and edges. In the next step, thermal treatment of the previously synthesized GIC was performed, causing both the exfoliation of graphitic structure and transformation of perrhenic acid into rhenium oxides on the surface of graphene layers. The yielded product was exfoliated graphite-ReO₂/ReO₃ composite. The obtained composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Raman spectroscopy. Additionally, specific surface area of the exfoliated materials was measured.

     

The Influence of Dimensional Effects on the Composition and Properties of Polydicarbonfluoride

The influence of dimensional effects on the compositions and properties of polydicarbonfluoride (C₂F)_n prepared from multilayered graphenes was investigated. Multilayered graphenes were produced by destructive thermal decomposition of intercalation compounds of “idealized” (C₂F)_n that were obtained by reaction of gaseous ClF₃ with natural graphite at a room temperature. The precursors of multilayered graphenes have a common formula (C₂F?xR)_n where R is an organic or inorganic component. It was shown that polydicarbonfluoride prepared from multilayered graphene does not form stable intercalation compound with ClF₃, in contrast to polydicarbonfluoride prepared from graphite, that forms its intercalation compound with ClF₃ during fluorination of initial graphite in the ClF₃ excess. Investigations of polydicarbonfluoride prepared from multilayered graphene showed that it cannot form intercalation compounds with different classes of organic and inorganic compounds as polydicarbonfluoride prepared from graphite can do. The absence of such intercalation activity for polydicarbonfluoride prepared from multilayered graphene can be explained by high exfoliation degree of multilayered graphene (3–4 nm) along the c‐axis that results in the presence of two‐dimensional (2D) structure properties in multilayered graphene. Dimensional effects transformed the chemical properties of polydicarbonfluoride prepared from multilayered graphene and lowered its decomposition temperature by 150 K in comparison with polydicarbonfluoride prepared from graphite.     

聚乙烯/石墨层间化合物热降解过程的TG-FTIR研究

将含磷化合物插层石墨层间化合物(GIC)用于聚乙烯(PE)的阻燃,采用氧指数(LOI)方法评价了PE/GIC的阻燃性能,并采用热分析-红外光谱联用技术(TG-FTIR)研究了PE/GIC的热降解过程,探讨了GIC的阻燃机理。研究表明,不同含磷化合物插层GIC阻燃聚乙烯的氧指数有显著差别,其中以多聚磷酸铵-GIC的阻燃效果较好,氧指数较高。TG-FTIR研究结果表明,GIC并未显著影响PE的热降解方式,但由于GIC体积膨胀所发生的氧化还原反应导致部分PE热降解提前并发生热氧化降解,促进了后期成炭的石墨化过程。     

Reversible Insertion of Mg-Cl Superhalides in Graphite as a Cathode for Aqueous Dual-Ion Batteries

Oxidative anion insertion into graphite in an aqueous environment represents a significant challenge in the construction of aqueous dual-ion batteries. In dilute aqueous electrolytes, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) dominates the anodic current before anions can be inserted into the graphite gallery. Herein, we report that the reversible insertion of Mg-Cl superhalides in graphite delivers a record-high reversible capacity of 150 mAh g⁻¹ from an aqueous deep eutectic solvent comprising magnesium chloride and choline chloride. The insertion of Mg-Cl superhalides in graphite does not form staged graphite intercalation compounds; instead, the insertion of Mg-Cl superhalides makes the graphite partially turbostratic.     

层状钨基氧化物复合材料的合成与电子特性

W₂O₆·H₂O /一元烷基胺复合物[(C_nH_2n+1NH₂，n=4、8、12、16)嵌入层状氧化钨W₂O₆·H₂O] 的XRD、IR、TG-DSC分析表明：烷基胺C_nH_2n+1NH₂能基于质子加合的机制嵌入W₂O₆·H₂O层间，且插层复合物之间烷基胺的插入与抽出是个可逆过程；烷基胺嵌入层间后以全反式构象双层排布，层间距d随烷基胺碳原子数的增加而线性增长，烷基链与层板的夹角为71.6°。插层复合物UV-Vis分析发现，各种复合物的禁带宽度相对半导体氧化钨的禁带宽度变宽了很多，这表明可以通过嵌入不同的物质来调节氧化钨层与层之间的电子传递能力。     

Electrochemical preparation of graphite intercalation compounds containing a cyclic amide, [CF2(CF2SO2)2N]

Graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) containing the cyclo-hexafluoropropane-1,3-bis(sulfonyl)amide anion, [CF₂(CF₂SO₂)₂N]⁻, are prepared for the first time. Stages 2 and 3 GICs are obtained by electrochemical oxidation of graphite in a nitromethane electrolyte. Gallery heights of 0.85-0.86 nm are determined by powder X-ray diffraction, and the intercalate anion orientation within the intercalate galleries is modeled using an energy minimized anion structure. GIC compositions are determined by thermogravimetric, fluorine and nitrogen analyses. The chemical preparation and bifluoride displacement reactions are compared with a GIC containing the linear bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide anion, [(CF₃SO₂)₂N]⁻.     

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study of intercalated compounds of fluorinated graphite C2FxBr0.01·yCH3CN

The energy level structure of fluorinated graphite intercalation compounds C₂F_xBr_0.01·yCH₃CN (x = 0.49–0.87, y = 0.084–0.136) has been studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy providing the information on the electronic structure of compounds in question. The analysis of variations of the binding energy of core levels C1s, F1s, and O1s opens the possibility to explore the nature of the chemical bond C-F in the fluorographite matrix with a varying degree of fluorination, as well as to model the structure of these compounds. The examination of decomposition results of spectra into components has revealed the occurrence of C-F fragments, carbon atoms not bonded directly to fluorine atoms, and “graphite-like” areas, whose contribution to the overall structure increases with the degree of matrix fluorination decreasing. The presence of oxygen was considered from the viewpoint of surface phenomena characteristic of low-temperature carbon materials.     

Theoretical investigation of the electronic structure of graphite + LiNH2 intercalation compounds by the MNDO method

The electronic structures of the clusters C₄₈H₂₄, C₄₈H₂₄Li, and C₄₈H₂₄LiNH₂, which are models of intercalation compounds of graphite, have been calculated by a semiempirical quantum-chemical method in the cluster approximation. It has been shown that an Li atom is strongly polarized in a graphite lattice. When a molecule of LiNH₂ is inserted into a graphite matrix, the charge states of the intercalant molecule and the surrounding carbon atoms change. The cause of the strong increase in the inter planar distances in the intercalation compound of LiNH₂ is the antibonding interaction of the MO's of graphite and the intercalant.Institute of Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Far-Eastern Branch. Translated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 32, No. 2, pp. 12–16, March–April, 1991.     

Understanding High‐Rate K+‐Solvent Co‐Intercalation in Natural Graphite for Potassium‐Ion Batteries

Graphite shows great potential as an anode material for rechargeable metal‐ion batteries because of its high abundance and low cost. However, the electrochemical performance of graphite anode materials for rechargeable potassium‐ion batteries needs to be further improved. Reported herein is a natural graphite with superior rate performance and cycling stability obtained through a unique K⁺‐solvent co‐intercalation mechanism in a 1 m KCF₃SO₃ diethylene glycol dimethyl ether electrolyte. The co‐intercalation mechanism was demonstrated by ex situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and in situ X‐ray diffraction. Moreover, the structure of the [K‐solvent]⁺ complexes intercalated with the graphite and the conditions for reversible K⁺‐solvent co‐intercalation into graphite are proposed based on the experimental results and first‐principles calculations. This work provides important insights into the design of natural graphite for high‐performance rechargeable potassium‐ion batteries.     

Structure model and synthesis of NdCl3-FeCl3-graphite intercalation compounds

The distribution of the elements and microstructure of NdCI₃-FeCI₃-graphite intercalation compounds (GlCs) were shown by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The results show that Nd element intercalates into graphite, forming NdCI₃-FeCI₃-GICs, and the distribution of Nd and Fe is nearly even. On the basis of the data, a structure model for RECI₃-GICs was founded, and the characteristic layer distance and the index of interval energy were calculated. The calculated results agree with experimental ones, and the relative errors are ±2%. Thus it can be seen that the (111) face is optimal direction for intercalation reaction of TbCI₃—LuCI₃, and the (001) face is that for LaCI₃—GdCI₃, because of the lowest interval energy.     

A Straightforward Approach to Multifunctional Graphene

Graphene has been covalently functionalized through a one-pot reductive pathway using graphite intercalation compounds (GICs), in particular KC₈, with three different orthogonally protected derivatives of 4-aminobenzylamine. This novel multifunctional platform exhibits excellent bulk functionalization homogeneity (H_bulk) and degree of addition while preserving the chemical functionalities of the organic addends through different protecting groups, namely: tert-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc), benzyloxycarbonyl (Cbz) and phthalimide (Pht). We have employed (temperature-dependent) statistical Raman spectroscopy (SRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), magic angle spinning solid state ¹³C NMR (MAS-NMR), and a characterization tool consisting of thermogravimetric analysis coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (TG-GC-MS) to unambiguously demonstrate the covalent binding and the chemical nature of the different molecular linkers. This work paves the way for the development of smart graphene-based materials of great interest in biomedicine or electronics, to name a few, and will serve as a guide in the design of new 2D multifunctional materials.     

Reactions of metallocenes during intercalation into the layered TiSe2 lattice

The intercalation of metallocenes (Cp₂Co, Cp₂Fe, and Cp₂Ni, where Cp is η⁵-C₅H₅) from the gas phase into the TiSe₂ lattice and of cobaltocene from solutions in acetonitrile, carbon tetrachloride, and chloroform into TiSe₂ was studied. The insertion of metallocenes from the gas phase into the TiSe₂ lattice gives rise to the TiSe₂(Cp₂M)_0.3 compounds (M = Co or Fe) having the same stoichiometry. The reactions with the use of acetonitrile as the solvent for metallocenes, which facilitates the insertion, afford not only the intercalation complex but also the reaction product of metallocene and acetonitrile, viz., (η ⁵-C₅H₅)Co(η⁴-C₅H₅CH₂CN) (1). In the reactions of cobaltocene with chloroform or carbon tetrachloride in the presence of titanium diselenide, only the addition product, viz., (η ⁵-C₅H₅)Co(η₄-C₅H₅CCl₃) (2), was isolated. The structures of complexes 1 and 2 were studied by X-ray diffraction. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 876–880, May, 2007.     

长链烷基季铵盐插层氧化石墨的结构变化

基于改进的Hummers法制备氧化石墨(GO),并以长链烷基季铵盐(C_nTAB)对其进行插层处理;通过改变C_nTAB的链长、浓度,得到系列C_nTAB/GO插层复合物。采用XRD和元素分析对产物的最大底面间距及C_nTAB插入量进行表征。结果表明,随着C_nTAB链长的增长、C_nTAB浓度的增大,C_nTAB/GO插层复合物的最大底面间距逐渐增大。C_nTAB通过离子键作用和疏水键作用插入到GO层间,在GO片层上的吸附规律符合修正型(Modified)Langmuir模型,即C_nTAB以单分子层吸附在GO片层上。根据C_nTAB/GO插层复合物最大底面间距及C_nTAB插入量的变化规律分析,得出C_nTAB在GO层间的排布模式有单层平躺模式、类双层平躺模式、单层倾斜模式和单层直立模式。     

长链烷基季铵盐插层氧化石墨的结构变化

基于改进的Hummers法制备氧化石墨(GO),并以长链烷基季铵盐(CnTAB)对其进行插层处理;通过改变CnTAB的链长、浓度,得到系列CnTAB/GO插层复合物。采用XRD和元素分析对产物的最大底面间距及CnTAB插入量进行表征。结果表明,随着Cn TAB链长的增长、CnTAB浓度的增大,CnTAB/GO插层复合物的最大底面间距逐渐增大。CnTAB通过离子键作用和疏水键作用插入到GO层间,在GO片层上的吸附规律符合修正型(Modified)Langmuir模型,即CnTAB以单分子层吸附在GO片层上。根据CnTAB/GO插层复合物最大底面间距及CnTAB插入量的变化规律分析,得出CnTAB在GO层间的排布模式有单层平躺模式、类双层平躺模式、单层倾斜模式和单层直立模式。     

The intercalation of transition metal salen complexes into layered MoS2

Exfoliation-restack method has been employed to synthesize the intercalation compounds based on the cationic complexes [M(Salen)]⁺ (M = Mn³⁺, Fe³⁺, Co³⁺; Salen = N, N′-ethylene-bis(salicylaldimine)) into the layered MoS₂. Their conductivity is in the range of 0.04–0.1 S/cm, which is much higher than the pristine MoS₂. Magnetic measurement indicated that the intercalation compounds [Mn(Salen)]_0.18MoS₂ · 0.25H₂O and [Fe(Salen)]_0.12MoS₂ · 0.3H₂O exhibit the temperature-dependent paramagnetism, which obviates from the Curie–Weiss law due to the temperature-independent paramagnetism of the exfoliated MoS₂ slabs, while [Co(Salen)]_0.14MoS₂ · 0.5H₂O exhibits the almost temperature-independent paramagnetism. All three intercalation compounds do not show magnetic spin crossover behavior.     

Modeling the electronic structure of graphite intercalation compounds with lithium by metal complexes with polybenzene systems

The electronic structure of intercalation compounds obtained by inclusion of an alkali metal in graphite is considered using molecular complexes C₆H₆Li₂, (C₆H₆)₂Li, and (C₆H₆)₃Li₂ in the lowest energy states as examples. Modeling the electron distributions of the intercalates requires inclusion of metal d-orbitals in the basis set of AOs and rejection of purely ionic models. It was found that exclusion of the lithium d-AO from the basis set significantly increases the ionic character of the distributions. Moscow State University. Translated fromZhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 37, No. 3, pp. 450–457, May–June, 1996.     

Facile synthesis of mesophase pitch/exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets nanocomposite and its application as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Mesophase pitch (MP)/exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) nanocomposite has been prepared by an efficient method with an initiation of graphite intercalation compounds (GIC). X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy analysis techniques are used to characterize the samples. It is observed that GIC has exfoliated completely into GNPs during the formation of MP/GNPs nanocomposite and the GNPs are distributed uniformly in MP matrix, which represent a conductive path for a movement of electrons throughout the composites. Electrochemical tests demonstrate that the carbonized MP/GNPs nanocomposite displays higher capacity and better cycle performance in comparison with the pure carbonized MP. It is concluded that such a large improvement of electrochemical performance within the nanocomposite may in general be related to the enhanced electronic conductivity, which is achieved by good dispersion of GNPs within MP matrix and formation of a 3D network of GNPs.