Organic molecules have been used to prepare donor and acceptor ternary intercalation compounds of graphite and the various methods of preparation are reviewed.In most cases, the ternary is more stable towards air or water vapor than the corresponding binary devoid of the organic component.It is shown that the amount of third component can be computed quite accurately from a knowledge of its molecular volume in the free, non-intercalated state and the volume which is available between the planes of graphite.Reactions can, however, occure between the intercalated species and the ternarization of a binary compound is often an irreversible process.Chemical reactions taking place between the intercalated species can follow courses quite specific to the local conditions, among which the simultaneous presence between the planes of Lewis acids and Lewis bases can play an important role.
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