C60 fullerene tubes as removable templates

Crystalline microtubes (inner diameter 240-2100 nm) consisting of C-60 fullerene molecules were prepared in the mixture of C-60-saturated pyridine and isopropyl alcohol kept at 0 degrees C. Characterization by transmission electron microscopy showed a linear relationship between the Outer diameter and the inner diameter for the C-60 fullerene tubes. Optical observations Suggested that the specimens already had tubular structure when they were grown in the Solution. Deposition Of guest crystals inside the C-60 fullerene tubes was performed by the following procedure: (i) ultrasonic pulverization to obtain the C-60 fullerene tubes with open ends, (ii) absorption of methyl alcohol Solution of KBr into the tubes by the capillary attraction, and (iii) evaporation of methyl alcohol to precipitate KBr inside the tubes. Columnar KBr crystals were then obtained by dissolving the fullerene tube walls in toluene.