C60 Polymer Synthesized at High Pressure

Recent discovery of C60 polymers is reviewed. Application of high pressure (5 GPa) and high temperature (∼ 800°C) to pure C60 produces a new solid form with a rhombohedral unit cell. In this crystal, neighboring C60 molecules are bonded by four membered rings forming a two-dimensional polymer of C60 Different conditions of pressure and temperature produce other polymeric forms. Alternative approaches for synthesizing C60 polymers are compared with the high pressure synthesis.