Graphite lamellar compounds. Structure of transition-metal intercalates

Abstract

X-Ray diffraction studies from compounds obtained by reaction of transition-metal salts, dissolved in tetrahydro-furan, with potassium–graphite (C₈K), show that titanium, manganese, iron, cobalt, copper, and zinc intercalate in graphite. It has been established that lamellar compounds of stages 1–5 (i.e. with intercalated transition metal layers separated by 1–5 graphite layers respectively) are formed. The introduction of the metal layers leads approximately to the same increase in interlayer spacing for all stages. Values ranging from 0.56 to 0.58 nm were found for the thicknesses of the filled layers.