sp hybridization in free carbon nanoparticles--presence and stability observed by near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy.

ABSTRACT

The presence and stability of sp hybridized atoms in free carbon nanoparticles was investigated by NEXAFS spectroscopy. The experiments show that a predominant fraction of carbon atoms is found in linear sp-chains and that conversion into sp(2) structures proceeds already at low temperature and in the gas phase.