Pressure-induced dimerization kinetics of fullerene C-60

Dimerization kinetics was studied for fullerene C-60 by IR spectroscopy at a pressure of 1.5 GPa in the temperature range 373-473 K. The kinetic curve s for the formation of a dimer (C-60)(2) were obtained using its analytical IR band at 796 cm(-1). Under the assumption that pressure-induced C-60 dim erization is a second-order irreversible reaction, the reaction rate consta nts were determined at different temperatures. The corresponding activation energy and preexponential factor were found to be 134 +/- 6 kJ/mol and (1. 74 +/- 0.24) x 10(14) s(-1), respectively. The specific features of the sol id-phase C-60 dimerization in simple cubic and face-centered cubic fullerit e phases are discussed. (C) 2000 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica".