Synthesis of Barium-graphite Intercalation Compound

Abstract

Barium-graphite intercalation compound was synthesized by heat treatment of mixed powder of barium metal and graphite.X-ray analysis showed that the reaction product was composed of 1st stage compound and unreacted graphite.The compounds with higher stages than the 1st were not formed, even if the mixing ratio of Ba/C was changed from 1/8 to 1/24.The 1st stage compound was found to be stable up to 860°C in vacuo; the decomposition to higher stage compounds or the formation of carbide were not observed.The identity period of the 1st stage compound was 5.28Å, in good agreement with the value reported.By introducing liq.NH3 on the mixture of barium and graphite and succeeding heat treatment, 1st and 2nd stage Ba-NH3-C intercalation compounds were formed.The identity periods of these compounds were 6.31Å and 9.78Å, respectively, in good agreement with those reported by Rudorffet al.By mixing the 2nd stage ternary compound with metallic barium, compressing, and heating at 600°C for several hours, a new intercalation compound was formed.The identity period of this compound was 10.66Å.Although this compound was not isolated, chemical analysis of the mixture of this compound with the known ternary intercalation compounds showed that the Ba/NH3 ratio of this new compound was very high, at least 3.