Synthesis and Properties of Graphite Nitrate Cointercalation Compounds with Carboxylic Acid Esters

To expand the number of possible precursors of carbon nanoparticles, i.e., low-layer graphenes and nanoscrolls, binary and ternary graphite nitrate cointercalation compounds (GNCCs) with formic and acetic acid esters have been synthesized. X-ray powder diffraction data have demonstrated that the obtained GNCCs are stage II and IV intercalation compounds. It has been shown that the use of ethyl formate or an ethyl acetate/butyl acetate mixture as organic cointercalants leads to an increase in the height of the layer filled with intercalants as compared with graphite nitrate. Dispersions of carbon nanoparticles (low-layer graphenes and nanoscrolls) were obtained by sonication-assisted liquid-phase exfoliation of studied GNCCs in ethanol. The morphology of the obtained nanoparticles has been studied by transmission electron microscopy.