C-60 nanowhiskers formed by the liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation method

Fine needlelike crystals of C-60 have been formed by a liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation method which uses an interface of the concentrated toluene solution of C-60/isopropyl alcohol. The needlelike crystals of C-60 with a diameter of submicrons (C-60 nanowhiskers) were found to be single crystalline and composed of thin slabs with a thickness of about 10 nm. The intermolecular distance of the C-60 nanowhiskers was found to be shortened along the growth axis as compared with the pristine C-60 crystals, indicating a formation of strong bonding between C-60 nanowhiskers are assumed to be polymerized via the 2 + 2 cycloaddition in the close-packed [110](c) direction.