Networks graphite-like

We found that major products of Cgo suspended in hexane and methanol under laser ablation are graphite-like carbon. It probably arises from photodecomposition of fullerene network and photochemical and/or thermal isomerization from fullerene structure to graphite-like one. Another formation route of graphite-like carbon is clustering of small carbon clusters. 

Carbon nanotubes were discovered in 1991 and consist of elongated cages, best thought of as rolled graphite-like sheets, i.e. in contrast to the fullerenes, nanotubes consist of networks of fused 6-membered rings. Nanotubes are very flexible and have great potential in materials science. As a result, research in this area is a hot topic but is beyond the scope of this book the end-of-chapter reading list provides an entry into the area. 

It is also well known that properties of K-graphite-transition metal systems based on so called " ophite intercalation compounds GICs" are interested with respect to catalytic application in ammonia synthesis[2-4]. The studies carried out by Volpin-s group [3] at atmospheric pressure suggest that the interaction of intercalated species with the graphite network is likely to cause not only the activation of these species, but also the activation of the carbon atoms net of graphite. 

Another problem with the model is that the adsorption of nitrogen on such surfaces would indicate relatively low enthalpies of adsorption comparable to what is observed for adsorption by a carbon of high HTT, perhaps as high as 2(XK) °C. Certainly, a carbon of HTT of, for example, 600-800 °C would not possess such graphitic-like (microcrystallite) surfaces. Although this model approximates closely to structures in carbon networks, it does not predict pore-size distributions, that is the molecular space networks, a matter of some importance to adsorption studies. 

A plausible nucleation mechanism could be the gradual formation of carbon structures For instance by formation of linear carbon chains which via the addition of other linear chains and the addition of small carbon radicals can grow to bear graphite-like polycyclic networks. 

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