Isolation, separation and characterisation of the fullerenes C60 and C70: the third form of carbon

Abstract

Pure samples of the species C₆₀(Buckminsterfullerene) and C₇₀(fullerene-70) have been prepared, and their structures characterised by their mass and ¹³C NMR spectra; the results indicate the existence of a family of stable fullerenes, thus confirming that carbon possesses a third form in addition to diamond and graphite.