| Abstract: | Intercalation of Lanthanide Trichlorides in Graphite The reactions of the whole series of lanthanide trichlorides with graphite have been investigated. Intercalation compounds have been prepared with the chlorides of Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Sc, Y whereas LaCl3, CeCl3, PrCl3 and NdCl3 do not intercalate. The compounds were characterized by chemical and X-ray analysis. The amount of c-axis increase in consistent with the assumption that the chlorides are intercalated in form of a chloride layer sandwich resembling the sheets in YCl3. The chlorides which do not intercalate crystallize in the UCl3 structure having 3 D arrangements of ions. Obviously, these chlorides cannot form sheets between the carbon layers. The ability of AlCl3 to volatilize lanthanide chlorides through complex formation in the gas phase can be used to increase the intercalation rate strikingly. |
