Aw. Morawski et K. Kalucki, PREPARATION OF THIN-FILM GRAPHITE-LIKE CARBONS INTERCALATED BY METALLIC POTASSIUM, Journal of physics and chemistry of solids, 57(6-8), 1996, pp. 809-820
A thin film of graphite-like carbons was prepared on TM/Al2O3 support
(TM = Co and/or Fe). Then C-TM/Al2O3 precursors were intercalated with
metallic potassium vapour. The K-C-TM/Al2O3 materials obtained were v
ery active catalysts in the ammonia synthesis reaction. In the resulti
ng K-C-TM/Al2O3 catalysts, the presence of a KC8, KC9, KC16 and KC24 i
ntercalates mixture was found. The formation of intercalates is couple
d with the changing of the graphite-like carbons orientation from a fl
at structure in the C-TM/Al2O3 precursor to rather filamentous needle-
shaped or regular blocks in the K-C-TM/Al2O3 catalyst. The intercalate
d compounds of potassium and graphite thin film might facilitate trans
port of 2s electrons of potassium via a carbon graphite-like network t
owards very active supported transition metals.