The method of claim 2 wherein said halogen comprises a molecule selected from bromine (Br 2), iodine (I 2), iodine chloride (I 0), iodine bromide (IBr), bromine chloride (BrC l), iodine pentafluoride (IF S), bromine trifluoride (BrF₃), chlorine trifluoride (C l F₃) phosphorus trichloride (P C₁ 3), phosphorus tetrachloride (P₂ C 4), phosphorus tribromide (PBr₃), phosphorus triiodide (P I 3), or a combination thereof.

The method of claim 2 wherein said layered material comprises particles with a dimension smaller than 10 pm.

The method of claim 2 wherein said layered material comprises particles with a dimension smaller than 1 m.

The method of claim 2 wherein said platelets have a thickness smaller than 10 nm.

The method of claim 2 wherein said platelets comprise single graphene or graphite oxide sheets.

The method of claim 2 wherein said stable halogen-intercalated compound comprises a compound of C 8 Br or C sI.

The method of claim 2 further comprising a step of capturing at least portion of said halogen molecules after exfoliation.

The method of claim 2 wherein said step of intercalation comprises enclosing said layered material in a first chamber and said halogen in a second chamber which is in vapor communication with said first chamber and wherein said second chamber is at a lower temperature than said first chamber.

The method of claim 2 wherein said layered material comprises natural graphite, synthetic graphite, highly oriented pyrolytic graphite, graphite oxide, graphite fluoride, pre-intercalated graphite, pre-intercalated graphite oxide, pre-intercalated graphite fluorite, graphite or carbon fiber, graphite nano-fiber, or a combination thereof.

The method of claim 2 further including a step of adding a monomer or polymer to said liquid medium to form a nanocomposite precursor suspension or solution.

The method of claim 2 further including steps of mixing said platelets with a monomer or polymer to form a mixture and converting said mixture to obtain a nanocomposite solid.

The method of claim 2 wherein said halogen comprises a molecule selected from bromine (Br 2), iodine (I 2), iodine chloride (I 0), iodine bromide (IBr), bromine chloride (BrC l), iodine pentafluoride (IF S), bromine trifluoride (BrF₃), chlorine trifluoride (C l F₃) phosphorus trichloride (P C₁ 3), phosphorus tetrachloride (P₂ C 4), phosphorus tribromide (PBr₃), phosphorus triiodide (P I 3), or a combination thereof.

The method of claim 2 wherein said layered material comprises particles with a dimension smaller than 10 pm.

The method of claim 2 wherein said layered material comprises particles with a dimension smaller than 1 m.

The method of claim 2 wherein said platelets have a thickness smaller than 10 nm.

The method of claim 2 wherein said platelets comprise single graphene or graphite oxide sheets.

The method of claim 2 wherein said stable halogen-intercalated compound comprises a compound of C 8 Br or C sI.

The method of claim 2 further comprising a step of capturing at least portion of said halogen molecules after exfoliation.

The method of claim 2 wherein said step of intercalation comprises enclosing said layered material in a first chamber and said halogen in a second chamber which is in vapor communication with said first chamber and wherein said second chamber is at a lower temperature than said first chamber.

The method of claim 2 wherein said layered material comprises natural graphite, synthetic graphite, highly oriented pyrolytic graphite, graphite oxide, graphite fluoride, pre-intercalated graphite, pre-intercalated graphite oxide, pre-intercalated graphite fluorite, graphite or carbon fiber, graphite nano-fiber, or a combination thereof.

The method of claim 2 further including a step of adding a monomer or polymer to said liquid medium to form a nanocomposite precursor suspension or solution.

The method of claim 2 further including steps of mixing said platelets with a monomer or polymer to form a mixture and converting said mixture to obtain a nanocomposite solid.

The method of claim 2 wherein said halogen comprises a molecule selected from bromine (Br 2), iodine (I 2), iodine chloride (I 0), iodine bromide (IBr), bromine chloride (BrC l), iodine pentafluoride (IF S), bromine trifluoride (BrF₃), chlorine trifluoride (C l F₃) phosphorus trichloride (P C₁ 3), phosphorus tetrachloride (P₂ C 4), phosphorus tribromide (PBr₃), phosphorus triiodide (P I 3), or a combination thereof.

The method of claim 2 wherein said layered material comprises particles with a dimension smaller than 10 pm.

The method of claim 2 wherein said layered material comprises particles with a dimension smaller than 1 m.

The method of claim 2 wherein said platelets have a thickness smaller than 10 nm.

The method of claim 2 wherein said platelets comprise single graphene or graphite oxide sheets.

The method of claim 2 wherein said stable halogen-intercalated compound comprises a compound of C 8 Br or C sI.

The method of claim 2 further comprising a step of capturing at least portion of said halogen molecules after exfoliation.

The method of claim 2 wherein said step of intercalation comprises enclosing said layered material in a first chamber and said halogen in a second chamber which is in vapor communication with said first chamber and wherein said second chamber is at a lower temperature than said first chamber.

The method of claim 2 wherein said layered material comprises natural graphite, synthetic graphite, highly oriented pyrolytic graphite, graphite oxide, graphite fluoride, pre-intercalated graphite, pre-intercalated graphite oxide, pre-intercalated graphite fluorite, graphite or carbon fiber, graphite nano-fiber, or a combination thereof.

The method of claim 2 further including a step of adding a monomer or polymer to said liquid medium to form a nanocomposite precursor suspension or solution.

The method of claim 2 further including steps of mixing said platelets with a monomer or polymer to form a mixture and converting said mixture to obtain a nanocomposite solid.

The method of claim 2 wherein said halogen comprises a molecule selected from bromine (Br 2), iodine (I 2), iodine chloride (I 0), iodine bromide (IBr), bromine chloride (BrC l), iodine pentafluoride (IF S), bromine trifluoride (BrF₃), chlorine trifluoride (C l F₃) phosphorus trichloride (P C₁ 3), phosphorus tetrachloride (P₂ C 4), phosphorus tribromide (PBr₃), phosphorus triiodide (P I 3), or a combination thereof.

The method of claim 2 wherein said layered material comprises particles with a dimension smaller than 10 pm.

The method of claim 2 wherein said layered material comprises particles with a dimension smaller than 1 m.

The method of claim 2 wherein said platelets have a thickness smaller than 10 nm.

The method of claim 2 wherein said platelets comprise single graphene or graphite oxide sheets.

The method of claim 2 wherein said stable halogen-intercalated compound comprises a compound of C 8 Br or C sI.

The method of claim 2 further comprising a step of capturing at least portion of said halogen molecules after exfoliation.

The method of claim 2 wherein said step of intercalation comprises enclosing said layered material in a first chamber and said halogen in a second chamber which is in vapor communication with said first chamber and wherein said second chamber is at a lower temperature than said first chamber.

The method of claim 2 wherein said layered material comprises natural graphite, synthetic graphite, highly oriented pyrolytic graphite, graphite oxide, graphite fluoride, pre-intercalated graphite, pre-intercalated graphite oxide, pre-intercalated graphite fluorite, graphite or carbon fiber, graphite nano-fiber, or a combination thereof.

The method of claim 2 further including a step of adding a monomer or polymer to said liquid medium to form a nanocomposite precursor suspension or solution.

The method of claim 2 further including steps of mixing said platelets with a monomer or polymer to form a mixture and converting said mixture to obtain a nanocomposite solid.