Transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy of C60 fullerite

The crystal structure and the electronic structure of crystalline C 60 grown from a benzene solution have been studied by transmission electron microscopy and energy loss spectroscopy. Electron diffraction patterns and high-resolution images reveal an hcp structure ( a = 1.01±0.01 nm , c = 1.65±0.02 nm ) with stacking disorders. Electron energy loss spectra in a low-loss region revealed not only two collective excitations at 6.5 and 26 eV but also several single-electron excitations. From carbon K-shell excitation, spectral information on unoccupied π ∗ and σ ∗ bands has been obtained.