Microscopic insight into the bilateral formation of carbon spirals from a symmetric iron core

Mirrored carbon-spirals have been produced from pressured ferrocene via the bilateral extrusion of the spiral pairs from an iron core. A parametric plot of the surface geometry displays the fractal growth of the conical helix made with the logarithmic spiral. Electron microscopy studies show the core is a crystalline cementite which grows and transforms its shape from spherical to biconical as it extrudes two spiralling carbon arms. In a cross section along the arms we observe graphitic flakes arranged in a herringbone structure, normal to which defects propagate. Local-wave-pattern analysis reveals nanoscale defect patterns of two-fold symmetry around the core. The data suggest that the bilateral growth originates from a globular cementite crystal with molten surfaces and the nano-defects shape emerging hexagonal carbon into a fractal structure. Understanding and knowledge obtained provide a basis for the controlled production of advanced carbon materials with designed geometries

Microscopic insight into the bilateral formation of carbon spirals from a symmetric iron core

Mirrored carbon-spirals have been produced from pressured ferrocene via the bilateral extrusion of the spiral pairs from an iron core. A parametric plot of the surface geometry displays the fractal growth of the conical helix made with the logarithmic spiral. Electron microscopy studies show the core is a crystalline cementite which grows and transforms its shape from spherical to biconical as it extrudes two spiralling carbon arms. In a cross section along the arms we observe graphitic flakes arranged in a herringbone structure, normal to which defects propagate. Local-wave-pattern analysis reveals nanoscale defect patterns of two-fold symmetry around the core. The data suggest that the bilateral growth originates from a globular cementite crystal with molten surfaces and the nano-defects shape emerging hexagonal carbon into a fractal structure. Understanding and knowledge obtained provide a basis for the controlled production of advanced carbon materials with designed geometries

Exchange interactions of spin-active metallofullerenes in solid-state carbon networks

The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) of spin-active metallofullerenes (MFs) La@ C82 and Sc@ C82 diluted in solid-state C60 crystalline matrices with molar concentrations varying from 0.4% to 100% are investigated. For dilute concentrations, the hyperfine structure of the MFs is resolved, and as the concentration increases exchange narrowing is observed leading to a single peak in the EPR. Sc@ C82 MFs are inserted into single-walled carbon nanotubes to form peapods with concentrations of 10% and 0.1%, diluted with C60. For the case of peapods containing 10% Sc@ C82 a strong narrow peak is observed in X -band CW EPR, but not pulsed measurements. Peapods containing Ce@ C82 MFs are prepared and these also show similar CW EPR to the Sc@ C82, indicating the peak arises from charge transfer with the SWNT. © 2010 The American Physical Society