Carbon composite based on fullerenes and exfoliated graphite

A carbon composite material based on fullerenes and exfoliated graphite with different ratios (from 16: 1 to 1: 16 by weight) is synthesized and investigated. Samples are obtained by the introduction of C60 in a conductive matrix by means of heat treatment of initial disperse mixtures in a vacuum diffusion–adsorption process followed by cold pressing and annealing. It is shown that covalent bonds are formed between the fullerenes and the environment. The conductivity of the samples is quite high and ranges from a few to hundreds (Ω cm)–1. The concentration of charge carriers (mainly holes) is ~1019 to 1020 cm–3. It is concluded that the material obtained using these ratios of the components can be attributed to metal systems with structural disorder.