C₆₀ Nanowhiskers Formed by the Liquid–liquid Interfacial Precipitation Method

Fine needlelike crystals of C₆₀ have been formed by a liquid–liquid interfacial precipitation method which uses an interface of the concentrated toluene solution of C₆₀/isopropyl alcohol. The needlelike crystals of C₆₀ with a diameter of submicrons (“C₆₀ nanowhiskers”) were found to be single crystalline and composed of thin slabswith a thickness of about 10 nm. The intermolecular distance of the C₆₀ nanowhiskerswas found to be shortened along the growth axis as compared with the pristine C₆₀crystals, indicating a formation of strong bonding between C₆₀ molecules. TheC₆₀ nanowhiskers are assumed to be polymerized via the “2 + 2” cycloaddition inthe close-packed [110]_c direction.