SIMULATIONS OF LENGTH-SCALE CHANGE FOR FINGER GROWTH IN INTERCALATIONCOMPOUNDS

The dynamics of domain growth in intercalation compounds has been inve stigated using computer simulations. The system has been modeled as sh eets of two-dimensional diffusive lattice gas with attractive interact ions within the sheets and repulsive interactions between atoms in adj acent sheets. The atoms enter the ''crystal'' from a reservoir at one edge. For a stage-2 phase with alternate-layer occupancy the results s how a fingerlike domain formation which propagates in from the crystal edge. As fingers propagate into the crystal, the length scale increas es via a merging mechanism. Finger formation and merging is also seen during simulations of deintercalation of a filled crystal. The results are in qualitative agreement with stage-2 intercalation domains repor ted previously in Ag-intercalated TiS2.