REACTION STUDIES OF CARBON CLUSTERS

Reaction studies of carbon clusters C-n in the range n = 8-37, produce d by laser vaporisation in a supersonic nozzle, have been investigated using time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Clear differences in reaction products formed on hydrogenation are detected which show that even an d odd clusters behave quite differently and furthermore that at least two different types of even cluster appear to exist. The reactivity pa tterns for clusters C-n with n = 16, 18 and 22 are in a different clas s from those with n = 20, 24, 26 ..., a behaviour consistent with the existence of closed cage fullerene structures for even clusters with 2 0 or more carbon atoms(other than n = 22).