BRILLOUIN STUDY OF C-60 SINGLE-CRYSTAL TRANSFORMED BY INTENSE LASER IRRADIATION

We report a Brillouin scattering study of the product resulting from l aser irradiation of C60 single crystal. We found that, under high flue nce laser irradiation in the presence of oxygen, a new structure is fo rmed; the acoustic properties of this material are different from pris tine solid C60 and are similar to those of slow polymers or highly por ous materials such as carbon aerogels. Scanning electron microscopy an alysis of the material formed under irradiation confirms the formation of a spongy ramificated structure. The role of oxygen in driving full erene cage-opening reactions is discussed.