Fullerene Formation In Arc Discharge

The graphite arc-discharge in the presence of CCl4: Chlorinated carbon clusters in relation with fullerenes formation

“…graphite arc-discharge in He atmosphere) [1] has been commercially applied for many years, the formation mechanism for such kind of caged carbon clusters is still not well understood owing to the lack of viable evidences [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12], notably the lack of the information on possible intermediates. Upon this process was established, efforts were primarily directed to support the interpretations proposed by pioneers that see a number of attempts [13][14][15][16][17] to trap intermediates for the fullerene formation by the addition of various agents to the inert gas buffer medium.…”

The hydrogenation process as a method of investigation of fullerene C60 molecule

“…Our experimental data [25e27] and results of other research groups [24] lead to the conclusion that at the initial stage of formation the spherical carbon molecules C 60 can be formed from pentatomic molecules in the process of clustering, i.e. the pentatomic molecule is a structural unit of molecule C 60 .…”

“…noted in the paper [24], the analysis of synthesis process by empirical methods of quantum chemistry shows that the most simple configuration of such type (nearly the planar two-ring isomer with one "jumper" between rings) is formed with the most probability and yet it is optimal for transformation into fullerene (this is inconsistent with the naphthalene start). These investigations disclosed also that the forming reaction of hexagons, required for the closure of clusters, is the least beneficial.…”