The preparation and morphology characteristics of exfoliated graphite derived from HClO4–graphite intercalation compounds

Natural flake graphite (NFG) and perchloric acid (PA) were used as host material and intercalating agent, respectively, to synthesize graphite intercalation compound (GIC) through chemical method in the binary HClO4–graphite system. The HClO4–GIC was exfoliated above 200°C to produce exfoliated graphite (EG). The exfoliating ability of HClO4–GIC was characterized through its exfoliated volume (EV), i.e. the apparent volume of EG of per unit weight. The effect of some technological parameters on the EV was discussed in detail. The HClO4–GIC prepared under the condition: the intercalating reaction temperature, time and the mass ratio of PA to NFG being 120°C, 30min and 5/1, respectively, has an outstandingly exfoliating ability at low temperature (200°C) and its EV can attain 360cm3/g. In addition, the morphology characteristics of EG were characterized by scanning electron microscope.