Structures and field emission properties of heat-treated C60 fullerene nanowhiskers

The structures and field electron emission properties of C60 fullerene nanowhiskers were investigated. The single crystalline C60 fullerene nanowhiskers were straight, surrounded by facets, and had a uniform submicrometer diameter along the long axis. Heat treatment of the nanowhiskers drastically transformed the inner structure from C60 crystal to glassy carbon, while the outer structure kept its original morphology despite heat treatment. Field electron microscopy images of the heat-treated nanowhiskers showed striped patterns, characteristic of an agglomerate of crumpled graphitic layers.