Carbon framework structures produced in the Fullerene related materials

Soot produced from graphite through are discharge was separated into four fractions which were structurally analyzed. The toluene-soluble fraction carried C-60, C-70, and C-76-C-120 fullerenes while the toluene-insoluble quinoline-soluble fraction (ca, 1 wt%) consisted Of larger clusters of C-70 to C-400 which have a similar framework to C-60 or C-70 fullerenes. Graphitic substances in the quinoline-insoluble fraction were separated through precipitation in acetone. Combustion of the quinoline-insoluble fraction free from graphitic substances (15 wt%) revealed two kinds of carbon framework structures; one is a pentagon-containing system similar to fullerenes (ca. 30 wt%) and the other is a rather graphitic, hexagonal system (ca. 45 wt%). The pentagon-containing system in 'soot' particles burned in air at temperatures as low as 400 degrees C and was thermally converted to a hexagonal structure by heat treatment above 800 degrees C, (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.