Electrochemical synthesis and characterization of ferric chloride-graphite intercalation compounds in aqueous solution Original Research Article

Electrochemical synthesis of FeCl3-graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) in aqueous solution was studied by chronoamperometric, chronopotentiometric and cyclic voltammetric methods. Using 6–10m FeCl3-aqueous solutions, FeCl3-GICs with stage 2–6 and/or mixed stage structures were synthesized by an anodic oxidation, evidenced by both X-ray diffraction patterns and Raman spectra. The chemical formula of the synthesized GICs is experimentally determined as C12nFeCl3 · mH2O, in which n denotes the stage number, and m varies from 1 to 3. A formation diagram for FeCl3-GICs is experimentally constructed in terms of electrolyte concentration and applied potential. Addition of hydrochloric acid into the FeCl3-aqueous solution extends the potential window for intercalation and promotes the oxidation. The GIC synthesized in pure aqueous solution is more stable in air than that synthesized in the solution with hydrochloric acid.