What can fullerene science tell us about non-graphitizing carbons?
PJF Harris Department of Chemistry, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AD, UK Although graphite is the most stable form of carbon at normal temperatures and pressures, it is a remarkable fact that many carbons cannot be transformed into crystalline graphite even at temperatures of 3000°C and above. The structure of these charcoal-type “non-graphitizing” carbons is still poorly understood, despite their industrial importance as adsorbents and in other applications. Many models for the structure of non-graphitizing carbons have been put forward since the pioneering work of Rosalind Franklin, and these will be reviewed in this presentation. Evidence that non-graphitizing carbons may have a fullerene-related structure will then be discussed, focussing mainly on studies using high resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). At the end of the talk, a brief discussion will be given of the presence of carbonaceous contaminants on support films for TEM; these contaminants
