Creation of Novel Nano-Structures Taking Advantage of Plasma Physics

Abstract

New kinds of plasmas that consist of oppositely-chargedions of equal mass (e.g., C₆0⁺-C₆0^-) or different mass (e.g., A⁺-C₆0^-, A: alkali metals) are generated through ionization, electron attachment, and diffusion of carbon-allotrope fullerenes in a magnetic field. In these plasmas, electrons are minority species. A novel approach to control material structures on the nanometer scale is performed taking advantage of fundamental plasma physics phenomena, such as the Coulomb interactions between charged particles and the acceleration/deceleration of ions by stable plasmasheath electric fields in these new kinds of plasmas. We have succeeded in forming dimers of coalescing fullerenes, fullerenes that encapsulate alkali metalsinside their cages, carbon nanotubes that contain straight chain-like atoms or molecules inside, and carbon nanotubes that encapsulate a junction of fullerene molecules on one side and alkali-metal atoms on the other.