Characterizing high-pressure compressed C₆₀ whiskers and C₆₀ powder

Structural, mechanical, and electrical properties were examined for C₆₀ whiskers, high-pressure sintered C₆₀ whiskers, and C₆₀ powder. A high density of dislocations was observed in the C₆₀ whiskers, and the C₆₀ whiskers with diameters of a few hundred nanometers were found to be flexible. Although both the specimens sintered under the same condition showed similar surface x-ray diffraction profiles with a strong accumulation of [110]_tr orientation, the sintered C₆₀ whiskers showed a higher micro-Vickers hardness and an electrical resistivity four orders of magnitude lower than that of the sintered C₆₀ powder.