ABSTRACTGas-phase intercalation of graphite by nitric acid is a one-step process. The weight uptake of the sample is a function of nitric acid vapor pressure. A pure second stage compound was formed when the HNO3 reservoir was maintained at 17°C. Only a fourth stage compound was formed when the acid was kept at 0°C. The product gases due to intercalation and gas species evolved during deintercalation were analyzed by mass spectrometry. NO2 and H2O were the major components detected from the intercalation product gases. A small amount of oxygen was also present. The existence of O2 is probably due to the photo-chemical decomposition of nitric acid. As such, the photodecomposition of nitric acid is not a contributory factor in the intercalation chemistry.
Synthesis and characterization of tungsten-incorporated mesoporous molecular sieve MCM-48 by one step