2-DIMENSIONAL GRAPHITE FILMS ON METALS AND THEIR INTERCALATION

Two-dimensional graphite films (2DGF) on solids are wonderful objects, real nature-made two-dimensional crystals. Formation on active metal surface of a 2DGF with extremely high adsorption, chemical and catalyt ic passivity leads to a number of staggering effects. The review is de voted to 2DGF on metals and their nature, structure, modes of formatio n and physico chemical properties. A nature of absorption bond between PDGF and metal substrate is discussed in details. A special attention is paid to intercalation of 2DGF - a process when foreign atoms and e ven molecules (fullerenes C-60 molecules) spontaneously penetrate betw een graphite film and metal substrate. Modes of intercalation are disc ussed and a mechanism of it, based on thermal movements of carbon atom s of a graphite layer, proposed earlier, is used for explanation of ex perimental data. A new, practically important effect-superefficient di ffusion of alkaline atoms into transition metal bulk, covered by 2DGF, is reported.