Potassium-graphite laminate

Caution Potassium and potassium-graphite laminate (C8K) are pyrophoric and react violently with water, low molecular weight alcohols, and chlorinated solvents. They must be handled with care and used in strictly anhydrous solvents. Excess K or C8K can be safely destroyed by suspending them in anhydrous THF and slowly adding an excess of isopropanol (technical grade). 

Flush the flask with argon and rapidly add potassium (1.2 g, 30.7 mmol) in small pieces to the vigorously stirred graphite powder while keeping the temperature at 150°C. This leads to the formation of the beautifully bronze coloured potassium-graphite laminate (CSK) within 5-10 min. 

Laminated ammonia synthesis catalyst of increased activity prepared by the reduction of a ferric chloride/graphite compound, with vacuum deposition of potassium promoter. K. Kalucki and W. Morawski (Politechnika Szczecinska). PL 141354 (1987). 

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