Fullerene macro structures

At an arc discharge with CH4 present in the gas ambient, conditions were created stimulating the simultaneous formation of single layer fullerene structures, which after being covered by many layers, yield multiple layer structures. As a result well formed regions containing numerous spherical, conical and polyhedral macro forms of the order of several micrometers were grown. Also obtained were regions containing large quantities of nanotubes over 10 μm in length. A model is proposed to explain the structure built up. To aid in the pyrolytic growth of cover layers the temperature of the deposit was maintained high by the “inverse method”.