The 220nm spectral feature in ultra-violet absorption from continuous layer multi-shell C nanoparticles was observed and explained. Attempts to detect this feature in C allotropes had already led to the discovery of the C60 fullerene. The physical origin of this feature was deduced to be the well-defined pentagonal corner defects in polyhedral multilayer C nanoparticles. These new topological columnar defects were expected to have a large influence upon the electronic properties of nanomaterials, and were deemed to be worthy of further detailed study.

Optical Manifestations of the Condensation of Topological Defects in Continuous Layer Multishell Carbon Nanoparticles. P.V.Pikhitsa, Y.J.Kim, M.W.Kim, S.Yang, T.W.Noh, M.Choi: Physical Review B, 2005, 71[7], 073402 (4pp)