Fullerene-like carbon nanostructures in the Allende meteorite

Transmission electron microscopy has been used to examine carbon isolated f rom the Allende meteorite. The structure of the carbon is rather disordered , consisting of curved and faceted graphene sheets with little large scale graphitization, and resembles that of a microporous carbon following high t emperature heat treatment. Closed carbon nanoparticles, typically similar t o2-10 nm in diameter are commonly observed. These closed particles, which a re probably fullerene-like in structure, are strong candidates to be carrie rs of planetary gases. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.