High-resolution electron microscopy studies of a microporous carbon produced by arc-evaporation

Abstract

The soot produced as a byproduct of fullerene synthesis by arc-evaporation consists of a microporous carbon with a surface area, after activation with carbon dioxide, of ca. 700 m² g^–1. Here, we investigate the structure of this material, and its appearance after electron irradiation and high-temperature heat treatment, using high-resolution electron microscopy. We show that the heat treatment transforms the new carbon into a structure containing large, tube-like pores, rather than into polycrystalline graphite. This suggests that the arc-evaporated carbon may have a novel, fullerene-related microstructure, and that it may be the precursor for nanotube formation.