Sulfur doped graphite prepared via arc discharge of carbon rods in the presence of thiophenes

Sulfur doped graphite is obtained by arc vaporization of graphite rods in the presence of thiophenes. The surfaces of the carbon rods become coated with a layer of a sulfur-doped carbon. X-ray diffraction indicates a small d spacing expansion, and there is a slight decrease in the electrical conductivity of the doped layer. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirms that sulfur incorporation has occurred at a level of 0.6% and that the sulfur atoms are in a neutral state. X-ray photoemission results indicate that S incorporation induces a shift of the valence band toward the Fermi level. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(99)03919-5].