Nanometric lattice defects and distortion in the Buckyball cage in C₆₀ films revealed by scanning tunnelling microscopy

Abstract

The scanning tunnelling microscopy technique has been successfully used for high-resolution imaging of the C₆₀ lattice as well as the submolecular features of the carbon cage of C₆₀ molecules. The present study has facilitated further insight into the nanometric defect structure of the C₆₀ lattice which is found to be compatible with the f.c.c. structure, and the resolved images of the individual buckyballs are revealed to be distorted.