Structural investigation of 2Â MeV proton-irradiated fullerene nanorods

► C60 nanorods on Si (1 1 1) substrate were synthesized using Miyazawa LLIP method. ► C60 nanorods were irradiated with protons of 2 MeV at different fluencies. ► The colour change was observed which indicates a change in the optical band-gap. ► The destruction of crystal planes was also observed in the HRTEM. ► Irradiated C60-nanorods became insoluble in toluene.