Higher Fullerenes: Compositional Analysis by EDXD and Molecular Dynamics

A carbon soot of higher fullerenes was studied by Energy Dispersive X-ray Diffraction (EDXD) aiming at defining the overall structure as accurately as possible to define the overall structure, without lengthy separation and purification procedures. EDXD pattern was compared with model curves obtained for single homogeneous fullerenes already crystallized and for the hypothesized C180. All fullerenes contribute to the overall experimental curve to different extents, with C96 giving the best agreement. The presence of even higher fullerenes is very likely, since the hypothesized C180 gives a very good match as well.