THE USE OF SOLAR-ENERGY FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FULLERENES AND POROUS SILICON

We have previously shown that the high intensity of solar radiation, o btained with the Odeillo (France) solar furnace facilities, can be use d to vaporize graphite in inert gas atmosphere and to produce fulleren es. After a short survey of the vaporization-condensation method used here, we discuss some of the mechanisms of formation of these molecule s and the possibility of increasing the yield, which currently reaches 20%. This technique which presents substantial advantages (use of pow ders, small rate of UV radiation, possibility of varying pressure and evaporation rate) allow a better knowledge of the mechanisms of format ion of fullerene and can be easily used for other material than carbon . As an example, we give first results of production of one porous sil icon species exhibiting a strong photoluminescent effect.