On the Behaviour of Potassium-Benzene-Graphite Intercalation Compounds

KC(24) was reacted with dehydrated benzene for a week at room temperature and then for a month at 70 degrees C. The ternary K-Bz-GIC obtained at room temperature decomposed very slowly, when the sample was immersed in water. In case the ternary compound was heat treated at 70 degrees C, the stability in water was very high. This unusual stability is due to the oligomerization of benzene, and hence we abbreviate the heat treated ternary compound as K-(Bz)n-GIC. The thermostability of K(Bz)n-GIC was evaluated by XRD measurements and elemental analyses; the sample decomposed partly at 200 degrees C and thoroughly decomposed to graphite at 200-400 degrees C. The reaction of K-(Bz)n-GIC with NH(3) and Cl(2) gas are also discussed.