Preparation and stability of a ternary potassium-tetrahydrofuran-graphite intercalation compound

By using orthogonal design to optimize reaction conditions, a stage I potassium-tetrahydrofuran-graphite intercalation compound (K-THF-GIC) was synthesized. A high concentration of intercalants and a long reaction time are favorable for the graphite to react completely and to form stage I K-TIIF-GIC. The stability of stage I K-THF-GIC was investigated by X-ray diffraction. The results showed that K and THF deintercalated from the interlayer space of the graphite when stage I K-TIF-GIC was exposed to air, washed by solvent and heated, which was accompanied by formation of a higher stage K-THF-GIC which is more stable than stage I K-THF-GIC. The processes of K and THF intercalation into and deintercalation from the interlayer space of graphite were discussed.