Investigations of exfoliating graphite intercalation compounds using time-resolved DEXAFS

The exfoliation processes (rapid thermal decomposition) of CuCl 2 graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) cointercalated with FeCl 3 or AlCl 3 were investigated using time resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy in an energy dispersive mode. The experiments were carried out at the DEXAFS beam line at HASYLAB (Hamburg). The evolution of the absorption spectra of the Cu K-edge was compared with the reaction of pure CuCl 2 under the same conditions. From the exfoliation of the CuCl 2 /AlCl 3 -GIC a CuO graphite compound can be obtained. The formation resembles the reaction of pure CuCl 2 , whereas the exfoliation of the CuCl 2 /FeCl 3 -GIC results in a mixture of Cu 2 O, CuO and Cu clusters