RAMAN-SCATTERING IN FULLERENES

Since the discovery in 1990 of a relatively simple are method to synth esize gram quantities of carbon cage molecules (fullerenes), considera ble research effort has been expended to understand the molecular and solid-state properties of fullerenes and fullerene-derived materials, Raman scattering has played an important role in this effort which has focused on the fullerene C-60, and to a lesser extent C-70. From Rama n spectra and their comparison with model and ab initio calculations, fundamental questions regarding the intramolecular bonds, the structur e and properties of crystalline, fullerene-derived solids, including t he superconducting K3C60 and Rb3C60 compounds, have been addressed and largely understood, Raman scattering has also been used to probe pres sure- and temperature-driven phase transitions and the photopolymeriza tion of fullerenes in the solid state, in addition to the bonding of f ullerene molecules to metal substrates. In this review the highlights of this Raman scattering research are discussed, Brief introductory re marks concerning the discovery and structure of fullerenes are also gi ven.