CLEAVED SURFACE-STRUCTURES OF CUCL2-GRAPHITE AND FECL3-GRAPHITE INTERCALATION COMPOUNDS DETECTED BY ATOMIC-FORCE MICROSCOPY

We have investigated the surface structure of stage-1 CuCl2- and FeCl3-graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) by atomic force microscopy. For both GICs, the atomically flat terrace-step structures have been easily obtained by cleaving and, on the terraces, interesting incommensurate superlattices have been observed. In the case of CuCl2-GIC, surface structure of intercalated molecules was very similar to the bulk structure. For FeCl3-GIC, it is noteworthy that surface reconstruction or rearrangement of intercalated molecules has been found. We have also found long-period superlattice structures for both GICs. The origins of these superlattices are discussed.