Interlayer conduction band states in graphite-sulfur composites

Abstract

We present experimental evidence for the existence of interlayer states formed in graphite-sulfur (C-S) composites. We have studied occupied and unoccupied p bands of the C-S composites by means of soft x-ray absorption and emission spectroscopy. New spectral features in the C $1s$ absorption are interpreted as contributions arising from the interaction of sulfur s states with graphite interlayer states. The equivalence of C $K\ensuremath{\alpha}$ x-ray emission spectra of C-S and graphite lets us conclude that the interlayer states are entirely located above the Fermi level.