Characteristics of exfoliated graphite prepared by intercalation of gaseous SO3 into graphite

Abstract

The graphite intercalation compounds(GIC) were prepared by a dry process that led to the intercalation from the direct reaction of gaseous SO3 with flake type graphite. The basal spacing of the GIC was increased from 8.3 Å to 12 in the gallery height. The ejection of interlayer SO3 molecules by the heating for 1 minute at 950 °C resulted in an exfoliated graphite (EG) with surprisingly high expansion in the direction of c-axis. The expansion ratios of the exfoliated graphites were increased greatly between 220 times and 400 times compared to the original graphite particles, and the bulk density was in the range of 0.0053 to 0.01 g/cm3, depending on reaction time. The pore size distribution of exfoliated graphite was in the range of 10-170 μm, which exhibites both mesoporosity and macroporosities. This result indicates that the direct reaction of graphite particles with gaseous SO3 can be proposed as an another route for the exfoliated graphite having excellent physical properties.