Fullerene structure synthesis by DC arc discharge in ferrocene vapours

The DC discharge between carbon electrodes in Ar and ferrocene gas mixture ambient was used to obtain fullerene structures (FS) and FS with incorporat ed iron atoms. The used method has been developed by the authors and it sup plies the electrode deposit growth with carbon from the ferrocene mainly. I n contrast to the classical method for iron in fullerenes incorporation whe n iron or its compounds are inserted into the sublimated electrode and are supplied from there during electrode consummation, in the concerned method iron is provided to a substantial degree from the ferrocene, too. The exist ence of five already structured carbon atom rings in the ferrocene correspo nds to the method when naphthalene is used for fullerene synthesis. This ma kes fullerene creation easier and increases the fabricated product quantity . The proposed gas mixture peculiarities and advantages are discussed. The differences and the advantages of the produced electrode deposits and the F S are pointed out and clarified. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.