Clean, robust alkali sources by intercalation within highly oriented pyrolytic graphite

We report the fabrication, characterization, and use of rubidium vapor dispensers based on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) intercalated with metallic rubidium. Compared to commercial chromate salt dispensers, these intercalated HOPG (IHOPG) dispensers hold an order of magnitude more rubidium in a similar volume, require less than one-fourth the heating power, and emit less than one-half as many impurities. Appropriate processing permits exposure of the IHOPG to atmosphere for over ninety minutes without any adverse effects. Intercalation of cesium, potassium, and lithium into HOPG has also been demonstrated in the literature, which suggests that IHOPG dispensers may also be made for those metals.