Synthesis and properties of ternary GIC with iron or copper chlorides

The variety of graphite intercalation compounds (GIC) is provided by the possibility to obtain ternary intercalation (TGIC) compounds containing two or more intercalates. A wide range of metal chlorides (FeCl3, AlCl3, CuCl2, NiCl2) and Brönsted acids (HNO3, CH3COOH, H2SO4) are generally used as intercalates. Iron chloride intercalation into the graphite leads to the formation of binary GIC with composition C6nFeCl3. Iron chloride acts as intercalate and oxidizer for the graphite matrix. Oxidation ability is due to the evolving of chlorine gas. Intercalation of CuCl2 requires harder conditions and occurs only with Cl2 presence. Co-intercalation GICs with FeCl3 and CH3COOH were synthesized by electrochemical graphite oxidation in the mixed electrolyte. Bi-intercalation GICs containing CuCl2 and H2SO4 were obtained by successive graphite intercalation with metal chloride and acid. All the synthesized compounds were investigated by physicochemical analysis. New ternary intercalation compounds with the FeCl3–CH3COOH mixture or CuCl2–H2SO4 one were synthesized. The correlation between intercalation features and reagents intercalation ability was shown.