Electrochemical reduction of polymeric carbon

It was found that the electrochemical reduction of poly (tetrafluoroethylene) with lithium amalgam leading to the mixture of polymeric carbon and lithium fluoride as solid product is followed by a consecutive electrochemical reaction via a polymeric anion radical, [$\text{(}\text{?}$C_n$\text{)}\text{?}$^?]_m. The value of n was determined as 4.75 and was found to be independent of the reaction conditions. The charge of this radical is during the reaction neutralised with Li⁺ ions diffusing through the solid phase to form a chemical compound $\text{(}\text{?}$C_nLi$\text{)}\text{?}$_m whose CLi bonds have a localized character. Therefore, this compound does not evolve hydrogen in contact with water as the intercalation compounds C_nLi, but hydrolyses to a solid hydrocarbon $\text{(}\text{?}$C_nH$\text{)}\text{?}$_m.