Structural Transformations in Fullerite C₆₀ under High-Pressure (P=12. 5 GPa) and High-Temperature Conditions

Abstract

Using quenching of samples to ambient conditions, we have studied structural transformations of fullerite C₆₀ upon heating at P=12. 5 GPa, i. e., in the pressure range corresponding to the regime intermediate between collapses of fullerite C₆₀ into the pure sp² and sp³ amorphous carbon phases. A complicated picture of transformations, including the gradual crystal-to-amorphous transition with increase of the number of sp³ atomic sites (due to the 3D polymerization) and formation of graphitic clusters with the subsequent crystallization of diamond and graphite nanocrystals, was observed.