Electrochemical synthesis and characterization of formic acid-graphite intercalation compound

✍ Scribed by F. Kang; Y. Leng; T.-Y. Zhang

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 800 KB
• Volume: 35
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0008-6223
• DOI: 10.1016/s0008-6223(97)00065-1

✦ Synopsis

A formic acid-graphite intercalation compound (HCOOH-GIC) has been successfully synthesized by an electrochemical process whereby formic acid solution serves as both the electrolyte and the intercalate source. Stage structures of 3, 4 and 5 have been revealed by both X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Formation of HCOOH-GIC was achieved by controlling the apparent anodic current density in the range of 5-10mAcmm2 and the reaction duration for 5 to 10 hours. The synthesized compounds can be exfoliated by rapid heating to a relatively low temperature (- 400°C). Their expansion volume reaches 150 to 300mlg-' with the specific surface area of 20 to 50m2 g-'.

Since no sulfur is involved in this process, formic acid-GIC can produce flexible graphite for elevated temperature sealing without any corrosive elements. Electrochemical intercalation of other organic acids into graphite has also been investigated in this work.