Fullerenes, Carbon Nanotubes and Carbon Nano-Onions —They could Be Plasma Crystals

Abstract

A large variety of polyhedral carbon forms, based on closed network of 5/6 rings of carbon, was discovered near the end of 20th century and named fullerenes. Typical forms of the members of fullerenes, including C₆₀, carbon nanotubes and carbon nano-onions are briefly introduced. In spite of unprecedented vigor in research and developmental activities into the properties and applications of fullerenes, the origin of exotic forms in fullerenes still remains unknown. We propose here that the fullerenes could be the results of crystallization of complex plasma of carbon. Close analogy between carbon nano-onions and mm-sized Coulomb balls is mentioned. The latters are nested spherical shells consisting of micron-sized plastic spheres and crystallized in spherical potential field.