Intercalation of barium into graphite by molten salts method: Synthesis of massive samples for crystal structure determination of BaC6

International audience; A solid-liquid method is used to synthesize the first stage bulk BaC6 graphite intercalation compound (GIC). This way of synthesis allows the preparation of bulk and massive samples useful for crystal structure determination. Through an eutectic medium LiCl-KCl, and by submerging a graphite platelet in barium-molten solution at 450°C for several days, the bulk BaC6 compound is obtained and X-ray diffraction investigations allowed a complete structural study. The collected data certify that BaC6 crystallizes in the hexagonal P63/mmc space group with the following parameters a = b = 430.6 pm and c = 1058.2 pm.