Carbon superatom thin films

TL;DR

This paper uses quantum molecular dynamics simulations to demonstrate that C_28 fullerenes can form nearly defect-free thin films on surfaces, acting as carbon superatoms, and supports the hyperdiamond model for solid C_28.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed microscopic structural analysis of C_28 fullerene thin films, confirming their defect-free nature and supporting the hyperdiamond model.

Findings

C_28 fullerenes form nearly defect-free thin films

The films retain bonding properties of the clusters

Supports the hyperdiamond model for solid C_28

Abstract

Assembling clusters on surfaces has emerged as a novel way to grow thin films with targeted properties. In particular, it has been proposed from experimental findings that fullerenes deposited on surfaces could give rise to thin films retaining the bonding properties of the incident clusters. However the microscopic structure of such films is still unclear. By performing quantum molecular dynamics simulations, we show that C_28 fullerenes can be deposited on a surface to form a thin film of nearly defect free molecules, which act as carbon superatoms. Our findings help clarify the structure of disordered small fullerene films and also support the recently proposed hyperdiamond model for solid C_28.