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Fullerenes C60 and C70 in flames.

J B Howard1, J T McKinnon, Y Makarovsky

  • 1Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge 02139-4307.

Nature
|July 11, 1991
PubMed
Summary

Researchers have successfully produced fullerenes C60 and C70 in sooting flames by controlling combustion conditions. Optimal yields reached 3 g per kilogram of fuel carbon, with tunable C70/C60 ratios.

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Area of Science:

  • Chemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Combustion Science

Background:

  • Fullerenes C60 and C70 were initially identified in laser-irradiated graphite vapor.
  • Previous suggestions indicated fullerene formation in sooting flames, supported by mass spectrometry of all-carbon ions.
  • Mass spectroscopic evidence alone could not definitively confirm fullerene cage structures in flames.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conclusively detect and quantify fullerenes (C60 and C70) in hydrocarbon combustion products.
  • To investigate the influence of combustion parameters on fullerene yield and C70/C60 ratio.
  • To optimize conditions for maximizing fullerene production from flames.

Main Methods:

  • Collection of condensible compounds and soot from hydrocarbon flames under varied conditions.
  • Analysis of collected samples using conventional spectroscopic techniques.
  • Systematic variation of flame temperature, pressure, carbon/oxygen ratio, and residence time.

Main Results:

  • Detection of both C60 and C70 fullerenes in combustion-derived soot and condensates.
  • Fullerene yields and C70/C60 ratios were found to be dependent on combustion parameters.
  • Optimal conditions yielded 3 g of fullerenes per kilogram of fuel carbon burned.
  • The C70/C60 ratio could be varied across a range of 0.26–5.7.

Conclusions:

  • Hydrocarbon combustion in sooting flames is a viable method for producing fullerenes C60 and C70.
  • Precise control over combustion conditions allows for optimization of fullerene yield and composition.
  • This research provides a pathway for scalable fullerene synthesis from flames.

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