Structural investigation of the C₆₀/C₇₀ whiskers fabricated by forming liquid–liquid interfaces of toluene with dissolved C₆₀/C₇₀ and isopropyl alcohol

The structure of C₆₀ and C₇₀ whiskers with diameters between submicrometers and micrometers were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The fullerene whiskers were produced by forming liquid–liquid interfaces between toluene solutions of fullerenes and isopropyl alcohol. The growth fronts of C₇₀ whiskers were observed to be crystalline. The C₇₀ whiskers were assumed to be in a state of order–disorder transition. The whiskers of C₆₀ are very flexible, and C₆₀ whiskers bent strongly were torn into finer C₆₀ whiskers. The C₇₀ whiskers showed a higher crystallinity, though a high density of dislocations was observed in the C₆₀ whiskers.