EXTRACTION AND MASS SPECTROSCOPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF GIANT FULLERENES UP TO C(500)

A series of very large all-carbon molecules has been successfully extracted with quinoline from fullerene-rich carbon soots produced by the vaporization of graphite in a helium atmosphere using the contact arc method. The present extracts (black powder) were found not to be soluble either in benzene or toluene, which are normally used as extraction solvents for C60 and C70. The secondary ion mass spectrum (SIMS) of the extracts reveals that they contain a series of even-numbered gigantic carbon molecules C70+2n) (n greater-than-or-equal-to 1) up to at least C500. The SIMS spectra exhibit a remarkably wide distribution of carbon molecules which has a broad maximum at around C130-C150. The possibility of the isolation of such large carbon molecules, which are possibly fullerenes, is also presented.