REGULARITIES OF INTERCALATION OF 2-DIMENSIONAL GRAPHITE FILMS ON METALS BY ATOMS AND C-60 MOLECULES

The article is a brief review devoted to the intercalation of two-dime nsional graphite films (2DGFs) on metals. It is shown that two types o f intercalation of atoms into 2DGF depending on the ionization potenti al of the intercalate can take place, and regularities of both are des cribed. A new physical picture for the mechanism of the intercalation process is proposed and described in detail. A new unusual result, the possibility of intercalation of C-60 molecules into 2DGF, is reported . C-60 molecules are shown to stay without disintegration up to 1200 K in contact with the iridium surface. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier S cience S.A. All rights reserved.