New salts of graphite,C12+HF2− & C24+SiF5− and the treshold for the oxidative intercalation of graphite

Third row transition metal hexafluorides (MF₆) for which the electron affinity exceeds 130 kcal/mole (M = Os, Ir, Pt) have been found to intercalate graphite with electron oxidation of the host lattice, whereas those with inferior electron affinities (M = W, Re) do not intercalate¹. This behavior can be rationalized on kinetic or thermodynamic grounds; arguing for the latter, a simple Born-Haber cycle may be used which suggests an electron affinity threshold of 120–130 kcal/mole for the MF₆ intercalation reaction. For the general case of intercalation reactions by metal fluorides (with or without added fluorine), wherein the graphite lattice is oxidized, the threshold is determined by the free energy of the half-reaction which produces the intercalating fluoro-anion. The lattice energy of the graphite salt must also be taken into account when comparing free energy thresholds for large (e.g., MF₆) and small (e.g. HF₂^?) intercalating species.We have evaluated the free energy of formation of a number of fluoro-anions from the heats of formation and lattice energies of salts which contain them. These studies indicate a threshold free energy of ca. 110 kcal/mole for graphite intercalation. Two ‘borderline’ second stage compounds, C₂₄⁺SiF₅^? and C₁₂⁺HF₂^?, have been synthesized.