A new carbon solid made of the world's smallest caged fullerene C20

Caged fullerene C-20 solids were successfully synthesized by means of ion beam irradiation method. The characterization of structures and features of C-20 crystal have been performed using various complementary analysis techniques, such as high-resolution transmission electron microscope, electron diffraction, laser desorption post-ionization, and Raman spectroscopy. These results indicate that in condensed phases C-20 molecules can act as dodecahedron carbon cages; in particular the capability of acting as a building blocks of hexagonal crystal. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.