Selective precipitation of tubular-like short fullerene (C60) whiskers at liquid–liquid interface

Tubular-like short fullerene (C60) whiskers with a few micrometers in length and diameter were prepared using C60 saturated benzene and 1-butanol in a liquid–liquid interfacial precipitation method. Electron microscopy showed that they have an irregular surface morphology and a partial tubular nature. Raman spectroscopy and UV-Visible absorption spectroscopic studies confirm the photo-assisted polymerization of fullerene molecules in the whiskers. X-Ray diffraction shows the whiskers have an fcc and hexagonal crystalline nature when dried at room temperature. A thermogravimetric profile validates the presence of organic molecules in the short fullerene whiskers, and these initiated the photo-assisted polymerization and stabilize the hexagonal crystal structure.