Gas dynamics in an arc discharge chamber as a factor governing the isolation of C60 and other “magic” fullerenes

A joint analysis of fullerene assembly kinetics and gas flow dynamics in an arc chamber for the production of fullerenes showed that the effective annealing of fullerenes and the evident dominance of “magic” fullerenes C60 and C70 were mainly explained by the difference between the thermal dissociation rates of these and less stable C62 and C68 fullerenes. The percent of “nonmagic” fullerenes was also shown to depend on the structure of the gas flows formed in the arc discharge chamber. The majority of newly formed fullerenes were not immediately removed from the chamber, bur were trapped by closed gas flows. Back in the hot region of the chamber, fullerenes were simultaneously annealed and dissociated under the action of high temperature and, partially, UV radiation. The “nonmagic” fullerenes were most actively suppressed in a non-pumpable discharge chamber.