Structure and electrical properties of heat-treated fullerene nanowhiskers as potential energy device materials

Fine carbon tubes “fullerene shell tubes (FSTs)” have been found among the C60 nanowhiskers heat-treated under vacuum at a temperature higher than 600 °C. FSTs with open ends have been found as well as FSTs with closed spherical ends. It has been also found that the FSTs can be easily prepared by the heat treatment of the C60 whiskers prepared by using C60 powders containing (η2-C60)Pt(PPh3)2. Since the high temperature-treated fullerene (nano)whiskers exhibit a high specific surface area and a good electrical conductivity, they are expected to be utilized as new electrode materials for fuel cells.