Long-term Growth Investigation of C₆₀ Fullerene Nanowhiskers

Abstract

C 60 nanowhiskers (C 60 NWs) were synthesized by liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation method (LLIP method), using m-xylene as a good solvent solution of C 60 and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) as a poor solvent of C 60 . The growth mechanism of C 60 NWs was investigated by the long-term observations using optical microscopy. In the early stage of growth, C 60 NWs grew faster and longer at 5°C than at 20°C. However as the growth time became longer, the growth rate of C 60 NWs became greater at 20°C than at 5 °C, and the longer C 60 NWs were obtained at 20°C than at 5 °C. Further, it is suggested that the growth of C 60 NWs proceeds by repeating the dissolution and reprecipitation process of C 60 NWs.