Surface structure of fluorine-graphite intercalation compounds observed by atomic force microscopy

Abstract

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been used to image fluorine-graphite intercalation compounds (C3.5F; stage 1 + 2, C3.9F; stage 2, (CF)n; stage 1). For all samples the atomic resolution is achieved. The AFM image of the C3.5F compound exhibits a new orthorhombic superlattice structure (a = 0.49 nm, b = 0.42 n, ∠a−b = 90°). In the AFM images of C3.5F and (CF)n the protrusions are attributed to fluorine atoms. The AFM image of C3.9F exhibits a centered hexagonal structure similar to highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG).