Polymerization of solid C60 under C 60 + cluster ion bombardment

Abstract

The structure transformation occurring in fullerene film under bombardment by 50 keV C 60 + cluster ions is reported. The Raman spectra of the irradiated C60 films reveal a new peak rising at 1458 cm−1 with an increase in the ion fluence. This feature of the Raman spectra suggests linear polymerization of solid C60 induced by the cluster ion impacts. The aligned C60 polymeric chains composing about 5–10 fullerene molecules have been distinguished on the film surface after the high-fluence irradiation using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The surface profiling analysis of the irradiated films has revealed pronounced sputtering during the treatment. The obtained results indicate that the C60 polymerization occurs in a deep layer situated more than 40 nm below the film surface. The deep location of the C60 polymeric phase indirectly confirms the dominant role of shock waves in the detected C60 phase transformation.