High-Resolution Electron Microscopic Study of the Growth Mechanism of Gigantic Tubular Super-Fullerenes

摘要

I report a new synthesis of gigantic tubular super-fullerenes : tubular carbon cages with shell structure showing maximum sizes of ∼ 10 μ m in length and ∼ 30 nm in the outermost diameter. For the innermost tubule a similar diameter to C60is found occasionally. Direct evidence of coaxial tubules capped on the ends is presented by high-resolution electron microscopy. I propose a new growth model: growth of the tubular super-fullerenes initiates at the outermost cage and proceeds towards the core. I would like to thank Oosuna, T. for obtaining TEM images and Shida, S. for preparing photographs.