FORMATION AND GROWTH OF CARBON NANOSTRUCT URES - FULLERENES, NANOPARTICLES, NANOTUBES AND CONES

Various formation models for fullerenes and other carbon nanostructure s, such as nanoparticles, nanotubes, and nanocones, are reviewed. The fullerene formation models considered include graphite-fragment and cl uster assembling, snail and 'fullerene path' models, and carbon cluste r annealing, Selection of magic fullerenes and fullerene isomers follo wing carbon cluster annealing and the subsequent absorption and ejecti on of the microcluster C-2 is discussed. Nanoparticle formation mechan isms are analysed and their relation to fullerene formation mechanisms is discussed, Molecular dynamics simulation of possible nanoparticle mechanisms is considered and possible growth nuclei and growth mechani sms for single- and multishell nanotubes and for carbon cones are disc ussed. Based on the formation mechanisms considered, fabrication techn iques for i) large magic fullerenes, ii) nanoparticles with a tens-of- atoms-strong metal nucleus, and iii) crystals of identical single-shel l nanotubes are proposed and described.