Transmission electron microscopy investigation of tubular and capsular needlelike crystals of C₆₀ produced by the liquid–liquid interfacial precipitation method

Tubular and capsular needlelike crystals of C₆₀ with a few hundreds nanometers to about one micrometer in diameter were discovered among the precipitates prepared by the liquid–liquid interfacial precipitation method. Addition of a small amount of (η²–C₆₀)Pt(PPh₃)₂ to the toluene solution of C₆₀ produced various morphologies of hollow C₆₀ crystals. This paper gives the first report on the formation of structures we named “C₆₀ nanotubes.”