A new form of pure, solid carbon has been synthesized consisting of a somewhat disordered hexagonal close packing of soccer-ball-shaped C60 molecules. Infrared spectra and X-ray diffraction studies of the molecular packing confirm that the molecules have the anticipated 'fullerene' structure. Mass spectroscopy shows that the C70 molecule is present at levels of a few per cent. The solid-state and molecular properties of C60 and its possible role in interstellar space can now be studied in detail.
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Krätschmer, W., Lamb, L., Fostiropoulos, K. et al. Solid C60: a new form of carbon. Nature 347, 354–358 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1038/347354a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/347354a0
