Probing C ₆₀

TLDR

Laser vaporization experiments show that C60 is exceptionally stable, suggesting it adopts a hollow truncated icosahedron structure that would be the first spherical aromatic molecule and the most perfect spherical, edgeless molecule, with implications for combustion science and astrophysics. The article reviews recent experimental probes of C60 and related carbon dusters. It surveys recent experimental techniques used to investigate C60 and related carbon dusters.

Abstract

Experiments involving the laser vaporization of graphite have indicated that one particular duster of carbon, C(60), is preeminently stable; this special stability may be evidence that C(60) can readily take the form of a hollow truncated icosahedron (a sort of molecular soccerball). If true, this structure for C(60) would be the first example of a spherical aromatic molecule. In fact, because of symmetry properties unique to the number 60, it may be the most perfecty spherical, edgeless molecule possible. Its rapid formation in condensing carbon vapors and its extreme chemical and photophysical stability may have far-reaching implications in a number of areas, particularly combustion science and astrophysics. For these reasons C(60) and other dusters of carbon have continued to be the subject of intense research. This article provides a short review of the many new experimental probes of the properties of C(60) and related carbon dusters.