Potential-energy function for large carbon clusters

Abstract

A potential function consisting of pair and three-body terms has been devised for large carbon clusters on the basis of qualitative assumptions regarding the structures and stabilities of isolated and fused carbon rings. The potential predicts that the C₆₀ icosahedral structure is stable to radial and tangential displacements of atoms and has a binding energy of 14.10 eV per atom. This is larger than that of a planar coronene-like (11.52 eV per atom) and a non-planar corannulene-like all carbon structure (11.41 eV per atom).