Clusters of Fullerenes

Abstract

The structure and dynamics of clusters of the all-carbon fullerene molecules are reviewed. After a brief overview of the properties of the individual fullerene molecules, the experimentally determined structures and the theoretical interaction potentials describing the cluster properties are reviewed. The dynamics of fullerene–fullerene molecule interaction after exposure of clusters to laser excitation, in bi-molecular collisions and after exposure of clusters to high energy ion beams is then reviewed. These show that the end products may be (multiply) charged clusters, fragmented or intact fullerene monomers or a wide range of fusion products, depending on how the excitation energy is transferred to the clusters and the amount of it.