Coating and polymerization of C_(60) with carbon: A gas phase photodissociation study

摘要

(C_(60)_nC_q~ cationic clusters are produced in a laser vaporization source by quenching the vapors from C_(60) and graphite targets. They are analyzed in the gas phase by abundance and photofragmentation time-of-light mass spectroscopy. Among the large number of expected isomers, the present experiments give evidence for the stability of special arrangements that may results from the attachment of preformed carbon rings to the fullerene cage. The particular case of C_(10) will be discussed, considering the results obtained on complexes with one, two or even three C_(60) molecules. This stdy reveals that the incorporation of large molecules into carbon cages could be an essential mechanism during the growth process of larger fullerenes and that the polymerization of C_(60) molecules is promoted by carbon links involving a single atom or a dimer.