Generation of nanophase fullerene particles via aerosol routes

摘要

Nanocrystalline and nanometer-size fullerene particles have been generated by aerosol routes starting from a solution of mixed fullerene extract in toluene. Nanocrystalline fullerene particles have been produced by spray drying, and ultrafine particles have been formed by vapor condensation. Gas-phase particle size distributions were determined with a differential mobility analyzer, and particle morphology and crystallinity were studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopies. When the processing temperature was increased from 20 to 400 deg C, the average particle size was reduced from 140 to 100 nm due to particle densification. At higher temperatures of 500 and 600 deg C, nanometer-size (about 20 nm), spherical fullerene particles were formed via vapor condensation. Transmission electron microcopy analysis indicated that a few nanometer-size crystallites were formed already at 200 deg C and the crystallite size was increased to about 10 nm at 500 deg C.