Formation Mechanism of C₆₀ under Nonequilibrium and Irreversible Conditions — An Annotation

Abstract

A few topics related with the latest mechanism of C₆₀ formation during condensation of carbon vapor proposed by computer simulation of Irle/Morokuma group are introduced in an invited lecture of CAN'2011. Mysterious failure of the shrinking hot giant road mechanism in the last step was rationalized by low yield (0.001%) obtained in independent discovery of C₆₀/C₇₀ formed under identical conditions in a planetary nebula. Better yields (1–14%) obtained in carbon vapor experiments on earth were rationalized by taking the collision effect of inert atmospheric gas into account. Much higher yields (20–100%) from combustion method should come from a more positive role of the atmosphere, in this case combustion exhausts in the inner flame, if SHGR mechanism applies as well. Formation mechanism of carbon nano-onions is discussed.

Keywords:

• Shrinking hot giant road
• Prigogine's chaotic theory
• white dwarf Tc 1
• C₆₀/C₇₀
• giant fullerenes
• carbon nano-onion

Acknowledgments

We thank Professor A. Vul' for his untiring encouragements given during writing this review, Professor S. Irle for supplying the latest progress and useful suggestions and Professor X. Zhao for helpful discussion. We are grateful to NASA for free downloading and reproduction of their superb artworks of space.