Studies of fluoride intercalation in graphite electrodes - The effect of HF concentration on competitive anodic processes

In 1.0 M and 5.0 M HF solutions, formation of graphite oxide and evolution of O-2 are to be the predominent anodic processes on graphite electrodes. At higher HF concentrations, fluoride intercalation becomes predominent. Polarisation measurements indicate significant reversibility of intercalation/deintercalation processes. Open circuit potential decay and XRD measurements however show some irreversible trapping of fluoride ions. SEM studies also indicate that the surface roughening occurs significantly during the intercalation/deintercalation process.