Solvation-Assisted Young’s Modulus Control of Single-Crystal Fullerene Nanowhiskers

Abstract

Single-crystal nanowhiskers (NWs) composed of fullerene C70molecules were synthesized by the liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation method that usedm-xylene as a saturated solution of C70molecules. Bending behavior of the individual NWs was observed byin situtransmission electron microscopy equipped with nanonewton force measurements using an optical deflection method. The Young’s modulus of the NWs was estimated to be 0.3–1.9 GPa, which was 2–7% of the moduli of fullerene NWs with similar diameters synthesized using other solvents, that is, toluene and pyridine. The influence of the solvent used in the precipitation method on Young’s modulus is discussed.