The stability of potassium-graphite deintercalation compounds

Abstract We have synthesized K-GICs (potassium-graphite intercalation compounds) by the modified two-bulb method. The compounds were kept under a stabilization agent (liquid paraffin). The stage transition of K-GDICs (graphite deintercalation compounds), owing to the slow diffusion of water, was observed by X-ray diffraction measurements. The effect of the formation of higher-stage K-GDICs by oxidation was discussed with the change of d 001 values and stage-number. We can make assumptions for the mechanism of stage transition by considering the mechanism of deintercalation of intercalants between carbon layers. As a model for the deintercalation process, two kinds of stage transformation could be considered: statistical deintercalation and irregular deintercalation of K-GDICs with the presence of the disordered stages. The stage stabilities and the kinetics in K-GDICs have been investigated by UV/VIS spectrophotometry.