Fullerene Preparation by Pyrolysis of Hydrocarbons

PolycycUc aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are suitable for the preparation of fullerenes because they aheady contain shuctural elements of the fullerene cage. In particular, such hydrocarbons consisting of five- and six-membered rings should rather easily transform into fullerenes upon thermal treatment as a part of the curvature is preformed already. 

Practically this method is performed with naphthalene, coraimulene or higher polycyclic aromatic compounds. These are heated to about 1000 C in an atmosphere of inert gas (usually argon). At these conditions, mainly and C70 are generated with concomitant cleavage of hydrogen. (These cyclodehydration 

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