Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of lanthanide trichlorides‐GIC: Stage-2 DyCl3-GIC

The formation of the vapor complex DyAl3Cl12 by action of gaseous Al2Cl6 on dysprosium chloride has been performed to synthesize a stage-2 DyCl3‐Graphite Intercalation Compound (GIC). EDS experiments prove that no AlCl3 is co-intercalated and 00l X-rays analysis leads to the chemical formula C17.36DyCl3.66. The c-axis repeat distance IC=1314±5 pm and the stacking sequence of intercalated DyCl3 along the c-axis corresponds to the layer sandwich Cl-Dy-Cl where the distance between Dy and Cl layers is 149 pm. The DyCl3 in-plane structure is oblique with lattice parameters a=1486 pm, b=1746 pm, γ=66.3°. It presents two different micro-domains disorientated from graphite lattice by θ1=±9°. Free and intercalated DyCl3 present paramagnetic behaviour following Curie-Weiss law.