Photo-assisted growth of C 60 nanowhiskers from solution

Photo-assisted growth of C 60 nanowhiskers (C 60NWs) by the liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation method was demonstrated with various wavelengths of ultraviolet-visible light. It is found that the growth rate of C 60NWs strongly depends on the wavelength of the illumination light. The growth rate of C 60NWs is significantly promoted by the light illumination with only wavelengths between 600 and 625 nm. The number of long C 60NWs reaches a maximum at 600 nm. The origin of photo-assisted C 60NW growth is discussed in the light of the mechanism of optical absorption in C 60 solution.