INTERCALATION AND EXPANSION OF NOVEL GRAPHITE BISULFATE COMPOUNDS
Angela Longo, Gianfranco Carotenuto, Sergio De Nicola, Riccardo Meucci, Carlo Camerlingo, Antonio Lapucci, Eugenio Pugliese, Marco Ciofini, Massimiliano Locatelli
Intercalated graphite materials allow studying reactions in confined chemical conditions. In this work graphite bisulfate has been prepared by intercalating sulfuric acid into graphite flakes in presence of periodate (IO4-) or chlorate (ClO3-) oxidizing agents. The obtained chemical derivatives exhibit very high expansion capability. The intercalation and expansion process have been investigated by comparing thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and micro-Raman spectroscopy of the different graphite bisulfate compounds. Laser-induced thermal expansion of intercalated graphite bisulfate compounds was observed in real time by thermal and visible techniques.