Scanning probe microscopy and spectroscopy of carbon nanorods grown by self assembly Original Research Article

Self-organization is a key-tool of nanotechnology. The material investigated in this work is an ionic C60 derivative which self-organizes into a variety of species (vesicles, dendrites and nanorods). The morphology is controlled by fluctuations in the local MFPDAC concentration in the seeding phase of self-organized growth. From a comparison of scanning probe microscopy, mass spectra, Raman spectra and infrared spectra before and after heat treatment, the nanorod geometry is demonstrated to be stabilized by the latter. The result of the heating process is suggested to be a 3-D C60 polymer with a rodlike shape. Moreover the C60 nanorods could be aligned parallel on a special lithographic substrate.