Generation of giant carbon hollow spheres from C60 fullerene by shock-compression

We report on the generation of carbon hollow spheres up to several micrometers in diameter on an internal hollow surface of the recovered sample from C-60 fullerene powder after shock-compression up to 57 GPa. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrates see-through spheres, a collapsed one like a Ping-Pong ball and bowl type objects, suggesting that the spheres are empty. Raman spectroscopy reveals that the carbon hollow spheres are in highly graphitized state of which crystalline size is several hundred of nanometers. The possible formation mechanism is proposed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.