PRESSURE-CONTROLLED SELECTIVE ISOMER FORMATION OF FULLERENE-C78

The isomer formation of three isomers of C78 fullerene is discussed on the basis of experimental evidence revealed by pressure-controlled fu llerene production. Theoretically predicted most stable isomer, C2v'-C 78 has been found to be very sensitive to the graphite burning conditi on. The fraction of C2v' isomer dramatically changes from zero to 50% by changing the foreign gas pressure. The present findings strongly su ggest that an isomerization within the C78 carbon network such as a py racylene rearrangement type transformation unlikely takes place.