화학공학소재연구정보센터
Journal of Physical Chemistry A, Vol.103, No.27, 5275-5284, 1999
Ball-and-chain dimers from a hot fullerene plasma
The laser desorption of C-k (k = 60 and 70) fullerene is known to produce a broad distribution of cluster sizes strongly peaking around the integer multiples of original fullerene mass. The "exact dimers" (C-n clusters with n = 2k) and species with slightly fewer atoms (n even) have been characterized previously as fully coalesced large single-shell fullerenes and [2 + 2] cycloadducts. Presently, we investigate the species encountered on the high-mass sides of exact dimers, that is, the clusters with n > 2k (n even), using high-resolution ion mobility measurements. Specifically, the drift time distributions for C-n(+) and C-n(-) with n = 122-128, 132-136, and 142-146 have been obtained and compared with the results of trajectory calculations for various trial geometries optimized using the density functional tight binding and semiempirical (AM1) calculations. We find that, besides the normal near-spherical fullerenes and [2 + 2] cycloadducts, these species assume the "ball-and-chain" structures consisting of two fullerene cages (not necessarily those of the original material) connected by chains up to eight atoms long. C-122 and C-132 cations and anions also reveal a substantial abundance of isomers where the C-C unit is sandwiched between the two fullerenes. Taken in conjunction with earlier findings for smaller fullerene dimers, presently reported results have allowed us to develop a comprehensive model for the chemical reactions occurring in the hot fullerene plasma.