Thermal decomposition of a fullerene mix

Experiments to characterize fullerene decomposition at temperatures above 973 K were conducted by spectroscopic analysis of samples heated in vacuo. The thermal decomposition can be described by first-order kinetics with an activation energy of 266±{}9 kJ/mol and a preexponential factor of 1.24×{}10⁹ s^-1. Though scanning electron micrographs display structures with a distinctly faceted appearance, x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and transmission-electron microscopy all show that the material is composed of amorphous carbon and graphite, indicating that pyrolysis of the fullerite occurs without destroying crystal facets.