Domains and domain walls in graphite intercalation compounds.

Abstract

The structure of domains and domain walls in the low-temperature solid phase of stage-2 alkali-metal graphite intercalation compounds is studied using molecular-dynamics (MD) simulation and a model potential obtained from fitting to the liquid structure data. For ${\mathrm{RbC}}_{24}$, we find small domains of (\ensuremath{\surd}7 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} \ensuremath{\surd}7 ) structure containing mostly seven Rb atoms and with domain walls consisting of (2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2) and (2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}3) elemental plaquettes. These nanostructures provide a clear picture of the discommensurations and a consistent understanding of the x-ray-diffraction measurements. Based on the simulation results, we propose a periodic domain-wall model that explains very well the dominant features of the x-ray structure factor for both ${\mathrm{RbC}}_{24}$ and ${\mathrm{CsC}}_{24}$ when we allow for small changes in the planar density.