Synthesis, atomic structures and properties of carbon and boron nitride fullerene materials

Carbon (C) and boron nitride (BN) fullerene materials (clusters, onions, in tercalation, nanopolyhedra, nanotubes and nanocapsules) were synthesized by polymer pyrolysis, chemical reaction, are-melting and electron-beam irradi ation. Atomic structure and formation mechanism were investigated by high-r esolution electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and electron energy-loss spectroscopy. Fullerene clusters and atomic clouds (atom hoppin g) were formed on the surface of the C and BN fullerne materials. They prov ided angular and spherical nanocage structures which consist of four-, five -, six-, and seven-membered ring bonding. Detection possibility of doping a toms in metallofullerene was discussed. included clusters showed some cryst allographic relationship with {001} layers of C and BN fullerene materials, and a structure model was proposed. Photoluminescence and magnetic propert ies of C and BN nanocapsules were measured, which showed higher energy shif t of luminescence and superparamagnetism. The present work indicates that t he new C and BN fullerene materials with various atomic structure and prope rties can be produced by various synthesis methods, and a guideline for des igning the C and BN fullerene materials is summarized. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sc ience S.A. All rights reserved.