GENERATION OF NANOMETER-SIZE FULLERENE PARTICLES VIA VAPOR CONDENSATION

Ultrafine (30-40 nm) fullerene particles were generated via vapor cond ensation in a continuous flow system starting from pure C60 and mixed fullerene extract (C60/C70). Gas-phase particle size distributions wer e measured using a condensation particle counter and differential mobi lity analyzer. Particle morphology and crystallinity were studied by S EM and TEM. Particles were partly amorphous at 400-degrees-C, and beca me crystalline C60 when processed above 500-degrees-C. The particles h ad an average size of 30, 35 and 40 nm and total number concentrations of 2.2 X 10(6) 3.5 X 10(6), and 5.0 x 10(6) number of particles/cm3, respectively at 500, 525 and 550-degrees-C.