AC Conductivity and Dielectric Response of Polycrystalline and Amorphous C₇₀

Abstract

The AC conductivity and dielectric constant of polycrystalline and amorphous C₇₀ samples were measured in the 75–300 K temperature range and in the 100 Hz to 1 MHz frequency range. For polycrystalline samples, we observe effects caused by O₂ intercalation due to prolonged exposure to ambient air. The conductivity σ of these samples around 300 K depends on the measuring frequency ν as a σ ∼ ν ⁿ with n ≈ 0.88, implying a strong reduction of DC conductivity to less than 10⁻¹² S/cm. The dielectric constant of polycrystalline samples shows an anomaly at 285 K which is interpreted as due to the transition from its intermediate rhombohedral phase into its monoclinic low‐temperature phase. In contrast with the polycrystalline samples, the amorphous C₇₀ samples prepared by sublimation do not contain interstitial 0₂, their conductivity at 300 K is of about 10⁻⁶ S/cm, is independent of frequency, and is well described by the hopping mechanism (Davis–Mott T ^1/4 law) in the 200–300 K range. All evidence of phase transitions disappears in the amorphous samples.

Keywords:

• Conductivity
• Dielectric permittivity
• Fullerenes

Acknowledgments

One of us (J.O.L.) gratefully acknowledges partial support from CONACYT (Mexico) grants F143‐19201 and F‐596‐E9404, to CGPI‐IPN for support to Projects 20010558 and 20020911, and to COFAA‐IPN for a SIBE fellowship.