High-resolution transmission electron microscopy study of a cross-linked fullerene-related multilayer graphitic material

L. N. Bourgeois, L. A. Bursill

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A disordered material consisting of graphitic nanoparticles bound together by sharing of their outer graphitic sheets is investigated by high-resolution trans¬mission electron microscopy. Detailed image analysis, including the effect of tilting the specimen, showed that the nanoparticles were often joined together via covalent and van der Waals cross-links, which explained the observed absence of dangling edges. From these observations a model whereby the nanoparticles are all interconnected via cross-links is proposed. A comparison between this material and aggregates of closed single shells found in the same sample as well as with other observations of carbon arc deposits led to an overview of a surprising variety of graphitic morphologies. Suggestions about the possible formation mechanisms for the cross-linked network as well as some similarities with glassy carbon are also discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1155-1166
Number of pages12
JournalPhilosophical Magazine A: Physics of Condensed Matter, Structure, Defects and Mechanical Properties
Volume79
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 1999
Externally publishedYes

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