JP2011144054A - Method for producing graphite intercalation compound - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for safely producing a graphite intercalation compound (GIC) with a metal halide intercalated between graphite layers at a temperature of ≤200°C without using any halogen gas. <P>SOLUTION: The method for producing a graphite intercalation compound comprises reacting graphite with a metal halide in at least one organic solvent selected from aliphatic halides, aromatic halides and aromatic nitro compounds. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for producing a graphite intercalation compound, and more particularly to a method for producing an intercalation compound in which a metal halide is inserted between graphite layers.

  A graphite intercalation compound (hereinafter abbreviated as “GIC”) in which a metal halide is inserted between graphite layers has attracted attention as a conductive material and a battery material because it exhibits high conductivity and is stable in the air. GIC is also useful as an intermediate material for catalysts and organic graphite.

  Conventionally, such GIC has been synthesized by reacting graphite and a metal halide at a high temperature of 200 ° C. or higher in a halogen gas atmosphere [for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-295212 (Patent Document 1). ), JP-A-1-208308 (Patent Document 2)]. However, such a synthesis method is not suitable for industrial production from the viewpoint of safety, such as the necessity of supplying a halogen gas and the reaction at a high temperature.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-277507 (Patent Document 3) discloses a method for producing a GIC by decomposing a chlorine compound to create a chlorine atmosphere instead of supplying chlorine gas. However, this method is still the same as reacting graphite and metal halide at a high temperature in a chlorine gas atmosphere, and there is still room for improvement from the viewpoint of safety.

  On the other hand, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-41706 (Patent Document 4) and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-153812 (Patent Document 5) disclose a method for producing GIC under vacuum without using a halogen gas. Yes. Although the method described in Patent Document 4 is safe in that no halogen gas is used, other metal chlorides coexist in addition to the target metal chloride. There was a possibility that the metal chloride of the mixture. The method described in Patent Document 5 is a method for inserting two or more kinds of metal halides.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-295212 JP-A-1-208308 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-277507 JP-A-62-41706 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-153812

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art. A graphite intercalation compound (GIC) in which a metal halide is inserted between graphite layers is used at a temperature of 200 ° C. or less without using a halogen gas. An object of the present invention is to provide a method that can be manufactured safely by using a computer.

  As a result of intensive studies to achieve the above object, the present inventors have made it safe to react at a temperature of 200 ° C. or less without using a halogen gas by reacting graphite with a metal halide in a specific organic solvent. The inventors have found that it is possible to produce GIC, and have completed the present invention.

  That is, the method for producing a graphite intercalation compound of the present invention comprises reacting graphite with a metal halide in at least one organic solvent selected from aliphatic halides, aromatic halides and aromatic nitrates. It is a characteristic method.

  The organic solvent used in the present invention is preferably at least one organic solvent selected from an aliphatic halide having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and an aromatic halide having 6 to 10 carbon atoms. The saturation concentration of the metal halide at 25 ° C. is preferably 1 g / L or more. On the other hand, aluminum chloride is preferred as the metal halide used in the present invention.

  In the method for producing a graphite intercalation compound of the present invention, the temperature at which graphite and a metal halide are reacted is preferably 200 ° C. or lower.

  The reason why the metal halide can be inserted between the graphite layers at a temperature of 200 ° C. or lower by the GIC manufacturing method of the present invention is not necessarily clear, but the present inventors speculate as follows. That is, in the GIC manufacturing method of the present invention, it is presumed that the metal halide dissolved in the organic solvent enters the graphite layer. In this case, organic solvent molecules exist around the dissolved metal halide molecules, and these organic solvent molecules mediate the reaction between graphite and the metal halide. It is assumed that the compound can be easily inserted.

  In addition, although the reason why a metal halide can be inserted between graphite layers by using a specific organic solvent in the GIC production method of the present invention is not necessarily clear, the present inventors infer as follows. That is, the metal halide inserted between the graphite layers is a Lewis acid, and the intercalation driving force is a charge transfer complex between the metal halide which is a Lewis acid and the aromatic of the graphite. Inferred to be formation. Further, it is presumed that the metal halide entering the graphite layer is a metal halide dissolved in an organic solvent. Since the aliphatic halide, aromatic halide, and aromatic nitrate used in the present invention are solvents capable of dissolving the metal halide without reducing the Lewis acidity of the metal halide, they are described above. Such a charge transfer complex is easily formed, and it is assumed that the metal halide is easily inserted between the graphite layers.

  According to the present invention, a graphite intercalation compound (GIC) in which a metal halide is inserted between graphite layers can be safely produced at a temperature of 200 ° C. or less without using a halogen gas.

It is a figure which shows typically the production | generation process of the metal halide-graphite intercalation compound in this invention. 2 is a graph showing an X-ray diffraction pattern of the aluminum chloride-graphite intercalation compound obtained in Example 1. FIG. It is the graph which expanded the range of 2 (theta) = 20-30 degrees of the X-ray diffraction pattern shown to FIG. 2A. 4 is a graph showing an X-ray diffraction pattern of the aluminum chloride-graphite intercalation compound obtained in Example 2. It is the graph which expanded the range of 2 (theta) = 20-30 degrees of the X-ray diffraction pattern shown to FIG. 3A. 4 is a graph showing an X-ray diffraction pattern of the aluminum chloride-graphite intercalation compound obtained in Example 3. 4 is a graph showing an X-ray diffraction pattern of the aluminum chloride-graphite intercalation compound obtained in Example 4. 6 is a graph showing an X-ray diffraction pattern of the aluminum chloride-graphite intercalation compound obtained in Example 5. It is a graph which shows the X-ray-diffraction pattern of graphite. It is the graph which expanded the range of 2 (theta) = 20-30 degrees of the X-ray diffraction pattern shown to FIG. 7A.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments thereof.

  The GIC production method of the present invention is a method in which a metal halide is inserted between graphite layers by reacting graphite with a metal halide in a specific organic solvent.

  The metal atom constituting the metal halide used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it forms a halide, but from the viewpoint that GIC can be formed, an aluminum atom, a calcium atom, a chromium atom, a manganese atom , Iron atom, cobalt atom, nickel atom, copper atom, zinc atom, cadmium atom, barium atom, tungsten atom, etc. are preferred, inexpensive and have appropriate Lewis acidity, polymerization initiation ability after intercalation (cation polymerization, coordination) From the viewpoint of having polymerization and oxidative polymerization, an aluminum atom is particularly preferable.

  Moreover, the halogen atom constituting the metal halide is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of availability and stability of the metal halide, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, and an iodine atom are preferable, and a chlorine atom is preferable. Particularly preferred.

  Among these metal halides, aluminum chloride, odor are easily purified, have an inexpensive Lewis acid, and have a polymerization initiation ability (cation polymerization, coordination polymerization, oxidation polymerization) after intercalation. Aluminum chloride, aluminum iodide, iron chloride and iron bromide are preferred, and aluminum chloride is particularly preferred.

  In the GIC production method of the present invention, such a metal halide and graphite are reacted in a specific organic solvent. Examples of such organic solvents include aliphatic halides, aromatic halides, and aromatic nitrates. These organic solvents may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among these organic solvents, aliphatic halides and aromatic halides are used from the viewpoint that the reaction rate between graphite and metal halide is fast, GIC can be produced in high yield, and the solubility of metal halide is high. Preferably, an aliphatic halide is more preferable.

  Examples of the aliphatic halide include aliphatic chlorides such as dichloromethane, chloroform, 1,2-dichloroethane, dichloroethylene, trichlene, chloropropane, dichloropropane, chlorobutane, chloropentane, and chlorohexane; aliphatics such as bromoethane, bromopropane, and bromohexane. Examples include bromides; aliphatic iodides such as iodomethane and iodoethane. Among these, aliphatic halides having 1 to 10 carbon atoms are preferred from the viewpoint that the interaction with the metal halide is strong and the metal halide easily enters the graphite layer, and dichloromethane, chloroform, and 1,2-dichloroethane are preferred. More preferred.

  Examples of the aromatic halide include chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene (o-isomer, m-isomer, p-isomer, and mixtures thereof), aromatic chlorides such as trichlorobenzene; aromatic bromides such as bromobenzene and dibromobenzene; iodo Aromatic iodides such as benzene are listed. Of these, aromatic halides having 6 to 10 carbon atoms are preferred from the viewpoint that the interaction with the metal halide is strong and the metal halide easily enters the interlayer of graphite, and chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene (o-form, m -Forms, p-forms, and mixtures thereof) are more preferred.

  Examples of the aromatic nitrate include nitrobenzene, nitrotoluene (o-isomer, m-isomer, p-isomer) and the like. Among these, from the viewpoint of industrial availability, ease of purification, and melting point, aromatic nitrates having 6 carbon atoms are preferable, and nitrobenzene and nitrotoluene are more preferable.

  In the organic solvent used in the present invention, the saturation concentration of the metal halide to be used is preferably 1 g / L or more at 25 ° C., more preferably 10 g / L or more. When the saturation concentration of the metal halide used is less than the lower limit, the amount of metal halide dissolved in the organic solvent is small, and it is difficult to insert a sufficient amount of metal oxide between the graphite layers. It is in. Examples of the organic solvent having a metal halide saturation concentration of 1 g / L or more at 25 ° C. include chlorohexane, chlorobutane, chloropentane, dichloromethane, chloroform, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,2-dichloroethylene, and chlorobenzene. Examples of the organic solvent of 10 g / L or more include dichloromethane, chloroform, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,2-dichloroethylene, and chlorobenzene.

  Furthermore, in the GIC production method of the present invention, the interaction with the metal halide becomes stronger, and the metal halide is the same as the halogen atom of the metal halide to be inserted from the viewpoint that the metal halide is easily inserted between the graphite layers. It is particularly preferred to use at least one organic solvent selected from aliphatic halides having a halogen atom and aromatic halides. For example, when inserting metal chloride, it is preferable to use at least one organic solvent selected from aliphatic chloride and aromatic chloride.

  In the GIC production method of the present invention, first, a mixture is prepared by adding graphite and a metal halide to the organic solvent. The amount of graphite added is preferably 0.1 to 500 g, more preferably 0.1 to 100 g, and particularly preferably 1 to 10 g with respect to 1 L of the organic solvent. If the amount of graphite added is less than the lower limit, the graphite and metal halide are less likely to react, and the yield of GIC tends to decrease. On the other hand, when the upper limit is exceeded, stirring becomes difficult, and thus a uniform reaction tends to be difficult.

  Moreover, as addition amount of a metal halide, 0.1-500g is preferable with respect to 1L of organic solvents, 0.1-100g is more preferable, 0.1-50g is especially preferable. If the added amount of the metal halide is less than the lower limit, the graphite and the metal halide are difficult to react, and the yield of GIC tends to decrease. On the other hand, when the upper limit is exceeded, stirring becomes difficult, and thus a uniform reaction tends to be difficult.

  Next, graphite and a metal halide are reacted in the organic solvent. The reaction temperature is not particularly limited as long as it is a temperature at which graphite reacts with a metal halide, but is preferably 200 ° C. or lower, more preferably 150 ° C. or lower, and particularly preferably 100 ° C. or lower from the viewpoint of safety. On the other hand, the lower limit of the reaction temperature is preferably −10 ° C. or higher, more preferably 0 ° C. or higher, and particularly preferably 20 ° C. or higher. When the reaction temperature is less than the lower limit, the reaction between graphite and metal halide does not proceed sufficiently, and the yield of GIC tends to decrease.

  The reaction time in the present invention is preferably 0.05 to 10 days, more preferably 0.1 to 5 days, and particularly preferably 1 to 5 days. When the reaction time is less than the lower limit, the reaction between graphite and metal halide does not proceed sufficiently, and the yield of GIC tends to decrease. On the other hand, even if the reaction is carried out in excess of the above upper limit, it is difficult to obtain a further yield improvement effect.

In the present invention, the reaction between graphite and metal halide is carried out in the organic solvent, but the gas phase portion of the reaction vessel is preferably replaced with an inert gas. Thus, it is possible to avoid water production to _GIC, the degradation by CO 2, _{O 2.} There is no restriction | limiting in particular as said inert gas, Nitrogen gas, argon gas, dry air, helium etc. are mentioned.

  Due to the reaction between graphite and metal halide, the metal halide is inserted between the graphite layers, and GIC is formed. This GIC has the same structure as a GIC manufactured by a conventional high-temperature gas phase method, and this structure can be confirmed by comparing X-ray diffraction patterns obtained by X-ray diffraction measurement.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although this invention is demonstrated more concretely based on an Example and a comparative example, this invention is not limited to a following example.

Example 1
A mixture was prepared by adding 183 mg of aluminum chloride and 40 mg of graphite to 7 ml of 1,2-dichloroethane having a saturated aluminum chloride concentration (25 ° C.) of 60 g / L, and this mixture was added to a pressure-resistant reactor in an inert gas atmosphere. And stirred for 3 days while heating at 80 ° C. The obtained solid content was cast on a glass plate and X-ray diffraction measurement was performed. The results are shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Further, X-ray diffraction patterns of only graphite are shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B.

  As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, in the X-ray diffraction pattern of graphite, one diffraction peak is observed around 2θ = 27 °, whereas in the X-ray diffraction pattern of the solid content, A plurality of diffraction peaks were observed as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. 2A and 2B are X-ray diffraction patterns (Joint Committee on Powder Diffraction Standards (JDPDS) of an aluminum chloride-graphite intercalation compound synthesized by a conventional high-temperature vapor phase method (220 ° C.). ): # 7-34).

  From this, it was confirmed that graphite and aluminum chloride reacted in 1,2-dichloroethane to form an aluminum chloride-graphite intercalation compound in which aluminum chloride was inserted between the graphite layers. It was also found that when graphite and aluminum chloride were reacted in 1,2-dichloroethane with stirring at 80 ° C. for 3 days, all the graphite could be converted into an aluminum chloride-graphite intercalation compound.

(Example 2)
A mixture of aluminum chloride and graphite was stirred in the same manner as in Example 1 except that 5 ml of nitrobenzene having a saturated aluminum chloride concentration (25 ° C.) of 110 g / L was used instead of 1,2-dichloroethane. The obtained solid X-ray diffraction patterns are shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

  This X-ray diffraction pattern coincided with the X-ray diffraction pattern of JDPDS # 7-34. From this, it was confirmed that graphite and aluminum chloride reacted in nitrobenzene to form an aluminum chloride-graphite intercalation compound. However, it was found that in nitrobenzene, some unreacted graphite remained even after stirring at 80 ° C. for 3 days, and the aluminum chloride-graphite intercalation compound was obtained as a mixture with unreacted graphite.

(Example 3)
In place of 1,2-dichloroethane, 7 ml of chloroform having a saturated aluminum chloride concentration (25 ° C.) of 60 g / L was used, and the temperature at the time of stirring was changed to 70 ° C. The graphite mixture was stirred. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the obtained solid content is shown in FIG. This X-ray diffraction pattern coincided with the X-ray diffraction pattern of JDPDS # 7-34. From this, it was confirmed that graphite and aluminum chloride reacted in chloroform and an aluminum chloride-graphite intercalation compound was formed.

Example 4
In place of 1,2-dichloroethane, 7 ml of dichloromethane having a saturated aluminum chloride concentration (25 ° C.) of 13 g / L was used, and the temperature at the time of stirring was changed to 50 ° C. The graphite mixture was stirred. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the obtained solid content is shown in FIG. This X-ray diffraction pattern coincided with the X-ray diffraction pattern of JDPDS # 7-34. From this, it was confirmed that graphite and aluminum chloride reacted in dichloromethane to form an aluminum chloride-graphite intercalation compound.

(Example 5)
In place of 1,2-dichloroethane, 7 ml of chlorobenzene having a saturation concentration of aluminum chloride (25 ° C.) of 20 g / L was used, and the temperature during stirring was changed to 50 ° C. The graphite mixture was stirred. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the obtained solid content is shown in FIG.

  In this X-ray diffraction pattern, an unknown diffraction peak was observed in the range of 2θ = 10 to 20 °, but in the other ranges, it coincided with the X-ray diffraction pattern of JDPDS # 7-34. From this, it was confirmed that graphite and aluminum chloride reacted in chlorobenzene to form an aluminum chloride-graphite intercalation compound. The diffraction peak in the range of 2θ = 10 to 20 ° suggested that the solid content contains a side reaction product of chlorobenzene and aluminum chloride.

(Comparative Example 1)
183 mg of aluminum chloride and 40 mg of graphite were mixed. The mixture was sealed in a pressure-resistant reactor under an inert gas atmosphere and stirred for 3 days while heating at 80 ° C. When X-ray diffraction measurement was performed on the obtained solid content, the X-ray diffraction pattern coincided with the X-ray diffraction pattern of graphite shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, and formation of an aluminum chloride-graphite intercalation compound was not observed. It was. From this, it was found that graphite and aluminum chloride do not react under the above temperature conditions in an inert gas atmosphere, and aluminum chloride cannot be inserted between the graphite layers.

(Comparative Example 2)
A mixture of aluminum chloride and graphite was stirred in the same manner as in Example 1 except that 7 ml of carbon disulfide was used instead of 1,2-dichloroethane. When X-ray diffraction measurement was performed on the obtained solid content, the X-ray diffraction pattern coincided with the X-ray diffraction pattern of graphite shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, and formation of an aluminum chloride-graphite intercalation compound was not observed. It was. This indicates that in carbon disulfide, graphite and aluminum chloride do not react and aluminum chloride cannot be inserted between the graphite layers.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a metal halide-graphite intercalation compound in which a metal halide is inserted between graphite layers can be obtained safely at a temperature of 200 ° C. or less without using a halogen gas. it can.

  Therefore, the method for producing a graphite intercalation compound of the present invention is useful for mass production of GIC because it is excellent in safety and is easy to scale up because it is a liquid phase reaction. And if it becomes possible to produce GIC in large quantities by the manufacturing method of the graphite intercalation compound of the present invention, GIC can be used for various uses such as conductive materials, battery materials, catalysts, and intermediate materials of organic graphite. Therefore, the method for producing a graphite intercalation compound of the present invention is an industrially very useful method.

Claims (5)

  A method for producing a graphite intercalation compound, comprising reacting graphite with a metal halide in at least one organic solvent selected from aliphatic halides, aromatic halides and aromatic nitrates.   2. The graphite layer according to claim 1, wherein the organic solvent is at least one organic solvent selected from an aliphatic halide having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and an aromatic halide having 6 to 10 carbon atoms. Compound production method.   The method for producing a graphite intercalation compound according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a saturation concentration of the metal halide at 25 ° C of the organic solvent is 1 g / L or more.   The method for producing a graphite intercalation compound according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the temperature at which the graphite and the metal halide are reacted is 200 ° C or lower.   The method for producing a graphite intercalation compound according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the metal halide is aluminum chloride.