Interpretation of electron diffraction patterns from amorphous and fullerene-like carbon allotropes

摘要

The short range order in amorphous and fullerene-like carbon compounds has been characterized by selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns and compared with simulations of model nanoclusters. Broad rings in SAED pattern from fullerene-like CNx at similar to 1.2, similar to 2, and similar to 3.5 angstrom indicate short-range order similar to that in graphite, but peak shifts indicate sheet curvature in agreement with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy images. Fullerene-like CPx exhibits rings at similar to 1.6 and 2.6 angstrom, which can be explained if it consists of fragments with short-range order and high curvature similar to that of C-20.