Macroscopic synthetic techniques for producing fullerene molecules have been developed which include the carbon arc and laser vaporization approaches. The "pentagon rule" kinetic growth mechanism for the fullerenes is proposed to explain this facile process. The reactor technology for generating fullerene molecules is generalized. Resonant two-photon ionization measurements have yielded the triplet state lifetimes and electronic spectroscopy of C$\sb{60}$ and C$\sb{70}$ in a supersonic molecular beam. The technique and results are described in detail. An unusual type of C$\sb{60}$ $\cdot$ Ar$\sp{+}$ complex has been detected through fragmentation studies in a tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Rotational stabilization is proposed as the mechanism leading to the long lifetime of this and similar species.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:RICE/oai:scholarship.rice.edu:1911/16528 |
| Date | January 1992 |
| Creators | Haufler, Robert Edwin |
| Contributors | Smalley, Richard E. |
| Source Sets | Rice University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis, Text |
| Format | 63 p., application/pdf |
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