On the nature of the so-called iron-graphite Original Research Article

Searching for the chemical and catalytic properties of iron-graphite, we reduced stage-1 FeCl3-graphite intercalation compounds (GIC) with K-naphthalenide/THF solutions, methyl-Li/THF solutions and hydrogen under various conditions. In addition, stage-1 K-GIC and K(THF)x-GIC were allowed to react with different iron compounds such as FeCl3, Fe(acac)3, Fe(AcO)2 and Fe(CO)2(NO)2. The reduction of stage-1 FeCl3-GIC by solutions resulted in graphite, three-dimensional iron platelets, iron oxides and residual FeCl2-GIC encapsulated by carbon. In some cases, intercalation of the reducing agent was observed. The samples reduced at high temperatures with hydrogen consist of graphite and three-dimensional iron platelets on the surface of the graphite flakes with a small amount of residual FeCl2-GIC. In contrast to the reduction of FeCl3-GIC, the reaction of K-GIC and K(THF)x-GIC with iron compounds resulted in the formation of graphite, isotropic three-dimensional particles of metallic and oxidic iron supported on graphite, and residual K-GIC. No lamellar two-dimensional Fe-graphite structure was found in any of these samples.