Synthesis of Fullerenes C60 and C70

Abstract

The synthesis of fullerenes C₆₀ and C₇₀ in an electric arc in the atmospheres of various gases, such as argon, helium, krypton, and hydrogen, at pressures in the range of 0.01–0.1 MPa was investigated. A stronger influence of gas-dynamic forces compared to the pinch effect on the possibility of obtaining a cathode deposit and a fullerene-containing soot with a falling volt-ampere characteristic was shown. The parameters of the electric arc, the structure of the cathode deposit, and the possibility of its production in various gases were determined. Spectral analysis of gas samples after experiments using hydrogen did not reveal the presence of hydrocarbons in the working atmosphere of the reactor. Selective deposition on a metal substrate under the action of a high-voltage electric field made it possible to separate a finely dispersed mixture of fullerenes C₆₀ and C₇₀ contained in the arc discharge plasma. It was found that the fractional composition of the C₆₀/C₇₀ fullerene mixture changes depending on the value of the substrate potential.