Fullerene shell tube and process for producing the same

Abstract

Fullerene whiskers or fibers obtained by a liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation method are heat-treated in vacuum or in a gas atmosphere at a temperature of from 500 to 1,000° C. to form a fullerene shell tube which can be used in wide applications such as field emission devices, gas filters, hydrogen storage materials and catalyst supports in energy, catalyst and semiconductor industries.

1 . A process for producing a fullerene shell tube, which comprises heat-treating a fullerene whisker or fiber at a temperature of from 500 to 1,000° C. in vacuum of 1 Pa to form a fullerene shell tube which has an amorphous carbon wall and whose inside is hollow.  
     
     
         2 . The process for producing the fullerene shell tube according to  claim 1 , wherein the fullerene is C 60  fullerene, a higher-order fullerene having the carbon number of 70 or more, a metal-containing fullerene or fullerene derivatives.  
     
     
         3 . A fullerene shell tube in which a diameter is in the range of from 10 nm to 100 μm, a length is 100 nm or more, the tube wall comprises amorphous carbon, and the inside is hollow.  
     
     
         4 . (canceled)  
     
     
         5 . The fullerene shell tube according to  claim 3 , wherein the end of the tube is closed or open.  
     
     
         6 . (canceled)