Potential Graphite Materials for the Synthesis of GICs

The potential of various graphite materials including Chinese flake graphite, Madagascan flake graphite, natural vein graphite, recycled vein graphite, and synthetic graphite for the preparation of -bisulfate was investigated through electrochemical intercalation method. All the graphite materials were characterized using laser particle size analyzer, SEM analysis, XRD analysis, and X-ray EDS elemental analysis. Chinese flake and Madagascan flake graphite materials were found to be capable of synthesizing GIC-bisulfate through electrochemical intercalation. Natural vein, recycled vein, and synthetic graphite materials did not show any evidence of forming GIC-bisulfate. The formation of GIC-bisulfate was verified through XRD results. Thermal exfoliation volume was observed as an indicator of GIC-bisulfate when the electrochemically treated material was exposed to a sudden thermal shock at a temperature of 850 °C.