Solid C36 as hexaclathrate form of carbon

The structure and stability of the newly synthesized C-36 solid is investigated using a generalized tight-binding molecular-dynamics method. Symmetry and electronic structure analysis point to a new form of carbon clathrate containing C-36 fullerenes as building blocks. All of its atoms have sp(3) bonding and the structure has exact D-6h symmetry. This is consistent with the electron-diffraction pattern of the new solid.