Synthesis and XPS investigation of superdense lithium-graphite intercalation compound, LiC2

The superdense lithium-graphite intercalation compound (GIC), LiC2, first synthesized by the author was prepared by the original technique in a piston-cylinder high-pressure chamber with internal heater. Cleaved surfaces of this compound, LiC3, LiC6 and pristine graphite were studied by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) technique. It was shown that chemical shifts of carbon do not vary in the range LiC6 to LiC2 which suggests that the additional lithium intercalation into LiC6 gives no significant change in the charge transfer rate per carbon atom. Carbon/lithium atom ratios were obtained for freshly cleaved surfaces and for the surfaces after argon ion bombardment. It was shown that the bombardment results in the surface decomposition of LiC2-GIC.