X-ray compressibility measurements of the graphite intercalates KC8 and KC24

The isothermal compressibilities of pristine graphite and stages 1 and 2 potassium-graphite have been measured at room temperature. Diamond anvil X-ray diffraction techniques were employed to determine the c-axis lattice constant as a function of hydrostatic pressure up to 12 kbar. The compressibilities $\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{c}}\text{?}\text{1}\text{C}{}_{33}$ were found to be (2.73±0.09)×10^-12, (2.13±0.09)×10^-12, (5.3±0.8)×10^-12 and $\text{(1.6±0.2)×10}{}^{-12}\text{cm}{}^2\text{dyn}$ for graphite, KC₈, stage 2 KC₂₄ and stage 3 KC₂₄, respectively. The compressibility of KC₈ was comparable to that of RbC₈ deduced from neutron scattering experiments.