Synthesis of thin, rectangular C60 nanorods using m-xylene as a shape controller

Thin, rectangular C-60 nanorods in face-centered cubic structure are synthesized by using m-xylene as a shape controller. These unusual nanorods (see figure) can easily grow on various substrates. The smallest nanorods have widths smaller than 30 nm. The nanorods are highly crystalline in single phase. A significant expansion of the lattice constant is also found in the Cbo nanorods when their widths decrease below about 80 nm.