Evidence of Kinetic Trapping in Clusters of C60 Molecules

F. Baletto, J. P. K. Doye, and R. Ferrando
Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 075503 – Published 31 January 2002
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Abstract

Molecular dynamics simulations of the growth of nanoclusters of C60 provide convincing evidence that experimental magic numbers, which are associated with structures based on Mackay icosahedra, are of kinetic origin. This finding resolves a long-standing contradiction between the experimental observations and the theoretically predicted most stable structures. Our results show that, even if a sticky intermolecular potential energetically disfavors icosahedral structures, the latter are frequently produced because the stickiness of the potential itself enhances kinetic trapping phenomena.

  • Received 22 October 2001

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.075503

©2002 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

F. Baletto1, J. P. K. Doye2, and R. Ferrando1

  • 1INFM and CFSBT/CNR, Dipartimento di Fisica dell'Università di Genova, via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genova, Italy
  • 2University Chemical Laboratory, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom

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Vol. 88, Iss. 7 — 18 February 2002

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