Structures and field emission properties of heat-treated C60 fullerene nanowhiskers

The structures and field electron emission properties of C-60 fullerene nanowhiskers were investigated. The single crystalline C-60 fullerene nanowhiskers were straight, surrounded by facets, and had a uniform submicrometer diameter along the long axis. Heat treatment of the nanowhiskers drastically transformed the inner structure from C-60 crystal to glassy carbon, while the outer structure kept its original morphology despite heat treatment. Field electron microscopy images of the heat-treated nanowhiskers showed striped patterns, characteristic of an agglomerate of crumpled graphitic layers. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.