title: Observation of "Stick" and "Handle" intermediates along the fullerene road
abstract: The hypothesis that fullerenes grow in a carbon plasma by the addition of C2 units (the "fullerene road") has been widely acclaimed as the most plausible mechanism for formation of larger fullerenes including C60 and C70. Calculations suggest that the association of C2 with fullerenes proceeds through two classes of intermediates, "sticks" and "handles." Here we report the observation of these species using high-resolution ion-mobility measurements for C(n) cations generated by laser vaporization of graphite and laser desorption of C60. Sticks with up to eight-atom chains have also been found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA.
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Shvartsburg
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Hudgins
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dugourd
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Frauenheim
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Jarrold