GRAPHITE-INTERCALATION COMPOUNDS CONTAINING SODIUM OR POTASSIUM-IONS ASSOCIATED WITH HYDROXIDE IONS

A blue graphite-electron donor compound, containing Na+ and OH- ions, with a small proportion of H- ions, has been synthesised by reaction of graphite with the mixture obtained by melting sodium with its hydroxide. In this new phase, of stage 1, the intercalate forms double-layer sheets, which have an organisation comparable to that of the quadratic form of the free hydroxide. Its electrical conductivity is highly anisotropic. A black third-stage compound of the same type has been obtained by reaction of graphite with a K-KOH molten mixture.