C60Detection in Soot Formed in Benzene Liquid Spray Combustion in a Shock Tube

This brief communication describes the observation of small amounts of C60 in soot formed in the liquid spray combustion of benzene behind reflected shock waves. As far as we are aware this is the first reported detection of C60 in shock waves at such high pressures and temperatures. The soot containing C60 was produced from combustion in argon containing 1% O2 at temperatures of about 2400K and pressures about 2.0 bar. Identification and separation of C60 from co-produced polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the soot samples were made by H.P.L.C. and mass spectrometry.