Structures of Carbon Soot Prepared by Laser Ablation

Two types of carbon soot, prepared by the laser ablation of graphite and carbon arc-discharge, were examined by means of electron microscopy. These carbonaceous materials are byproducts in fullerene production and thus are expected to be related structurally to fullerene molecules. It will be shown that morphologies and structure of the soot depend on carrier gas temperature during laser sputtering. Graphitic carbon is formed abundantly at room temperature, and network structures of fullerene-like cages appear dominantly at 1200 °C. Additional thermal energy during condensation of sputtered carbon is crucial in formation of various types of structures of solid carbon including fullerene molecules.