High Temperature Depolymerization of the 2D-R Polymer of C-60 Studied by Raman Spectroscopy

Raman spectra of the two-dimensional rhombohedral (2D-R) polymer of C-60 were measured at ambient conditions after 0.5 hour of treatment at various elevated temperatures in order to study the process of polymer degradation. The 2D-R polymer is stable up to similar to 510 K, while at higher temperatures an intermediate state appears where the initial 2D-R polymer coexists with inclusions of tetragonal-like (T-like) and orthorhombic-like (O-like) oligomers, as well as C-60 dimers and monomers. The polymeric material changes drastically its composition after treatment at similar to 560 K resulting in the domination of C-60 monomers.