Creation of nanospaces by intercalation of alkali metals into graphite in organic solutions

Abstract

Co-intercalation of alkali metals (Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs) with various organic solvents has been utilized for introducing nanospaces in graphite. The co-intercalation has been conducted by a solution method. Resultant products were studied by X-ray diffraction. For solvents of cyclic ethers, co-intercalation is likely to occur for heavy alkali metals of Rb and Cs. For linear ethers with one oxygen atom, binary graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) were mainly obtained, irrespective of alkali metal species. For linear ethers with two oxygen atoms, light alkali metal, in particular, Li tends to give ternary Li–solvent–GICs. From these results, it is concluded that co-intercalation is mainly influenced by the interaction between alkali metals and solvents and by the size of solvated alkali metals.