Graphite intercalation compounds with large fluoroanions

Over the past 20 years, a number of relatively large, perfluorinated anions have been found to intercalate into graphite. This review will describe the background, some syntheses and structures of these graphite intercalations compounds (GIC's). The fluoroanion intercalates include perfluoroalkylimides, perfluoroalkylsulfonates, and perfluoroalkylborate esters. Synthetic methods can include either chemical oxidation, for example using K2MnF6 in anhydrous or hydrous hydrofluoric acids or electrochemical oxidation. These gallery structures present in these GIC's are larger and more complex than for most previously-known GIC's, and therefore may be important in advancing the known chemistry of graphite. In this review, the relationship of intercalate packing, orientation and conformation is discussed. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.