FULLERENIC NANOSTRUCTURES IN FLAMES

High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) was used to c haracterize nanostructures in soots produced in flames of benzene, ace tylene, or ethylene premixed with oxygen and an inert diluent gas. The nanostructures ranged from similar to 2 nm to similar to 30 nm in siz e with a hollow core measuring about similar to 1 nm to similar to 10 nm in diameter and containing 5 to 20 shells, The shapes of the nanost ructures included spherical, spheroidal, tubular, and trigonous.