A new fullerene network phase obtained from C70 at high‐pressure and high‐temperature

Fullerene networks are an exciting class of materials that may display exceptional physical properties. A new C₇₀‐fullerene network phase, synthesized at high‐pressure, 7 GPa, and high‐temperature, 600 °C, is presented. Its structure, determined by Rietveld analysis of the X‐ray diffraction data combined with density functional theory modeling, consists of puckered polymerized layers where each molecule is bonded to three neighbors through 2 + 2 cycloaddition bonds, a new polymeric configuration unseen in other fullerene networks. This new C₇₀‐fullerene network structure adds to the previous zigzag structures, demonstrating the potential of C₇₀ molecules as building blocks to synthesize new carbon phases. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)