Solid C-36 as hexaclathrate form of carbon

The structure and stability of the newly synthesized C-36 solid is investig ated using a generalized tight-binding molecular-dynamics method. Symmetry and electronic structure analysis point to a new form of carbon clathrate c ontaining C-36 fullerenes as building blocks. All of its atoms have sp(3) b onding and the structure has exact D-6h symmetry. This is consistent with t he electron-diffraction pattern of the new solid.