Effects of pressure and stress on C60 fullerite to 20 GPa

• Published in: Nature (London) Vol. 351; no. 6325; pp. 380 - 382
• Main Authors: DUCLOS, S. J, BRISTER, K, HADDON, R. C, KORTAN, A. R, THIEL, F. A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing 30.05.1991
• Subjects: Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Equations of state of specific substances; Equations of state, phase equilibria, and phase transitions; Exact sciences and technology; Physics; Phase transformation; Cubic crystals; Equations of state; Constraint; Hydrostatic pressure; Carbon Molecules; Atomic cluster; Experimental study; X ray diffraction; Single crystal
• ISSN: 0028-0836; 1476-4687
• DOI: 10.1038/351380a0

Experimental measurements of the room-temperature pressure-volume equation of state of C60 fullerite at pressures of 20 GPa are presented. The face- centered cubic phase remains stable under hydrostatic compression to this pressure, with an atmospheric-pressure isothermal bulk modulus of K0 = 18.1 + or - 1.8 Gpa and dK0/dP = 5.7 + or - 0.6, characteristic of isotropic van der Waals intermolecular bonding. X-ray diffraction intensity changes are consistent with the compressibility of the C60 molecule being significantly lower than that of the bulk fullerite solid. Under nonhydrostatic compression, a transition to a crystallographic structure of lower symmetry is observed at 16 + or - 1 GPa. (C.D.)