The progress of materials science depends on the development of novel materials and the development of novel experimental techniques. The research on graphite intercalation compounds combines both aspects: new compounds with strikingly new and anisotropic properties have been synthesized and analyzed during the past couple of years by means of state-of-the-art experimental methods. At the same time, the preparation of the compounds already known has improved con siderably, giving increased reliability and reproducibility of the experimental results. The high quality experimental data now available have stimulated theo retical work. Moreover, the theoretical work has had a great impact on further experimental studies, with the effect of a much improved understanding of this class of materials. This volume is dedicated to a thorough description of all relevant experimen tal and theoretical aspects of the structural and dynamical properties of graphite intercalation compounds. Because of the large number of topics, a second vol ume, which is now in preparation, will follow and will treat the electronic, transport, magnetic, and optical properties. The second volume will also contain a chapter on applications of graphite intercalation compounds. There have been a number of reviews written on selected aspects of these compounds in various journals and conference proceedings during the last couple of years, but this is the first comprehensive review since the thorough overview provided by M.S. Dresselhaus and G. Dresselhaus appeared ten years ago."

The research on graphite intercalation compounds often acts as a forerunner for research in other sciences. For instance, the concept of staging, which is fundamental to graphite intercalation compounds, is also relevant to surface science in connection with adsorbates on metal surfaces and to high-temperature superconducting oxide layer materials. Phonon-folding and mode-splitting effects are not only basic to graphite intercalation compounds but also to polytypical systems such as supercon ductors, superlattices, and metal and semiconductor superlattices. Charge transfer effects playa tremendously important role in many areas, and they can be most easily and fundamentally studied with intercalated graphite. This list could be augmented with many more examples. The important message, however, is that graphite inter calation compounds represent a class of materials that not only can be used for testing a variety of condensed-matter concepts, but also stimulates new ideas and approaches. This volume is the second of a two-volume set. The first volume addressed the structural and dynamical aspects of graphite intercalation compounds, together with the chemistry and intercalation of new compounds. This second volume provides an up-to-date status report from expert researchers on the transport, magnetic, elec tronic and optical properties ofthis unique class of materials. The band-structure cal culations of the various donor and acceptor compounds are discussed in depth, and detailed reviews are provided ofthe experimental verification ofthe electronic struc ture in terms of their photoemission spectra and optical properties."