Abstract
A review on the variety of intercalants of graphite intercalation compounds (GIC) as well as on the peculier behavior of intercalants is given. About a handred kinds of intercalants are listed in the case of single-species intercalation. Intercalation takes place as the gaining of free enthalpy by the attraction between intercalants and graphens mainly by the electrostatic interaction due to the charge transfer. The donor type and acceptor type intercalants make GICs electron rich and hole rich conductors respectively. The charge transfer rate varies from unity to, e.g., 0.02. Staging is the most notable behavior of GIC which can make a c-axis superlattice as large periodic distance as more than 50Å. Staging kinetics due to Daumas-Hérold model, a ‘sliding model’ as the movement of inter-calant sheet and intra-stage fine phase transitions are discussed. Various methods of syntheses of GICs are described. Finally the multi-species intercalation is reviewed giving examples of different methods and different combination of species.
