High Shear Formation of Covalently Assembled 2D Sheets of Fullerene C₆₀ under Continuous Flow

The ability to covalently self-assemble fullerene C₆₀ into 2D sheets is established without the need to apply high temperatures, high pressures, or use surfactants or any harsh chemicals. They are formed in a thin film of liquid in a vortex fluidic device (VFD) where there is induced high shear mechanical energy associated with micron-sized "spinning top" (typhoon-like) topological fluid flows. These flows induce thermal desolvation and assembly of C₆₀ from a toluene solution below its saturation concentration, and depending on the rotational speed (ω) and the processing time for the tube tilted at 45^°, rectangular faceted 2D sheets of covalently linked C₆₀, ≈10 to 15 nm thick, of uniform dimensions up to ≈20 𝜇m in length and ≈6 𝜇m width are formed.