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Abstract: Ternary intercalation compounds of carbon fiber (ICCF) were successfully synthesized by soaking pitch-based carbon fibers in solvents such as 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) or tetrahydrofuran (THF) containing dissolved alkali metals (lithium, sodium, or potassium). ICCF with stage-1 and random stage was synthesized in alkali metal–DME and potassium–THF systems using different types of carbon fibers. However, ICCF with stage-1 could not be synthesized in lithium– or sodium–THF systems using carbon fibers with a low graphitization degree. Furthermore, the influence of the graphitization degree in the synthesis of ICCF was discussed. The graphitization degree of the host carbon fiber, in addition to the dimensions and steric structure of the intercalated complex affected the formation of TICCF. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The intercalation mechanism for carbon fibers was discussed. Li-intercalation compounds of pitch-based carbon fibers (Li-ICCFs) were synthesized through electrical contact between lithium metal and carbon fibers in an electrolytic cell. Li-ICCFs containing both high- and low-stages were synthesized with all the carbon fibers used. It was also shown that high- and low-stage structures of Li-ICCFs coexisted during the intercalation process. The intercalation behavior of carbon fibers was discussed from the aspect of the crystallite size of the carbon fibers and the de-intercalation behavior of the Li-ICCFs obtained. It was found that the de-intercalation behavior of the carbon fiber differed from that of graphite such as graphitized sheets. It was shown that a different crystallinity in the internal texture of the carbon fiber is related to the intercalation behavior, making it different from graphite. [TANSO 2012 (No. 255), 237–244.] [Copyright &y& Elsevier]