On the geochemistry of fullerenes: Stability of C60 in ambient air and the role of ozone

Abstract The chemical in ambient air responsible for degradation of fullerenes is ozone. The destruction of C 60 in toluene proceeds at least 5 orders of magnitude faster with O 3 than it does with O 2 . Ozonation of C 60 in toluene resulted in the formation of C 60 O, C 60 O 2 , and C 60 O 3 . Oxides were not formed when crystalline C 60 was exposed to O 3 . C 60 O was destroyed when heated in ambient air. The long-term survival of C 60 in nature seems to require an environment low in O 3