JCE Online Journal of Chemical Education
 | Subscriptions  | Software Orders  | Support  | Contributors  | Advertisers  | 

JCE Print

JCE Digital Library

JCE Software

Only@JCE Online

About JCE


  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 2004  > June  >
In the Classroom
JCE DigiDemos: Tested Demonstrations
Spectacular Pseudo-Exfoliation of an Exfoliated–Compressed Graphite
M. Comet, L. Schreyeck, S. Verdan, G. Burato, and H. Fuzellier
Laboratorie de Chimie Moléculaire et Environnement, Université de Savoie–E.S.I.G.E.C., 73376 Le Bourget du Lac, France

checked by: George Lisensky
Department of Chemistry, Beloit College, Beloit, WI 53511

Cover
June 2004
Vol. 81 No. 6
p. 819

Abstract
Graphite exfoliation is a well-known process in carbon chemistry. An intercalation compound is first synthesized using reactants with strong redox properties. The intercalated graphite is then heated and the exfoliation occurs: a graphite vermicular powder is obtained. When recompressed, this powder gives carbon sheets such as Papyex or Flexigraf flexible graphites. These commercially available materials can be impregnated with an aluminum trichloride/diethylether solution whose oxidation by atmospheric oxygen, initiated by an open flame, reproduces the exfoliation phenomenon. This kind of reaction has been called pseudo-exfoliation of carbonaceous material. This demonstration spectacularly illustrates the layered nature of graphite.
Supplement

Two videos of the pseudo-exfloliation of graphite (QuickTime).


*  Contents
*  Download
More Information
*  Citation
Comet, M.; Schreyeck, L.; Verdan, S.; Burato, G.; Fuzellier, H. J. Chem. Educ. 2004 81 819.
*  Keywords
Demonstrations; Inorganic Chemistry; Materials Science; Redox Reactions; Solid-State Chemistry
*  History
Created:
Last Updated:
May 2, 2004
February 22, 2005
  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 2004  > June  > Page 819


Subscriptions

JCE HS CLIC

Our Secondary School editors work hard to distill all the JCE materials to produce a fraction of particular interest to high school teachers. We call it CLIC.


Contributions Welcome
JCE welcomes your submission

Advertisers
In recent years we have worked hard to better match our advertisers with our readers. When shopping for chemistry education materials, visit our advertisers' WWW sites first.

Be An Ambassador
Take JCE along on your outreach missions. Copies of the Journal, guest access to JCE Online, our publications catalog, and more are available for your participants.