Abstract
We report a new fullerenelike material consisting of cross-linked nano-onions of C and N. Growth of the onion shells takes place atom by atom on a substrate surface and yields thin solid films during magnetron sputter deposition. Electron microscopy and energy loss spectroscopy show that the core shell contains up to N corresponding to aza-fullerene composition. Nanoindentation of this nanostructured material gives high resilience with hardness 7 GPa, Young's modulus 37 GPa, and complete elastic recovery after loading with 0.5 mN to a depth of 75 nm. Total energy calculations show the stability of aza-fullerenes and suggest the existence of a novel molecule.
- Received 23 July 2001
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.225503
©2001 American Physical Society