Solar energy: Application to the production of fullerenes

We have shown previously that the high intensity of solar radiation obtained with the Odeillo (France) solar furnace facilities, can be used to vaporize graphite in an inert-gas atmosphere and to produce fullerenes. After a short survey of the vaporization-condensation method used here, we discuss some of the growth mechanisms of these molecules and possible ways to increase the yield, which can reach 20% in the best cases. These experiments point out the principal factors controlling the fullerene yield, such as temperature, pressure and the gas Bow rate of the inert gas or the density of carbon atoms in the vaporization zone. Using these observations, the next developments of the method are currently in preparation using a I MW solar furnace.