Breaking of icosahedral symmetry: C60 to C70.

Abstract

We describe the existence and structure of large fullerenes in terms of symmetry breaking of the C60 molecule. Specifically, we describe the existence of C70 in terms of breaking of the icosahedral symmetry of C60 by the insertion into its middle of an additional H2 decagon. The surface of C70 is formed by 12 regular pentagons and 25 regular hexagons. All 105 edges of C70 are of the same length. It should be noted that the structure of the molecules is described in exact coordinates relative to the non-orthogonal icosahedral bases. This symmetry breaking process can be readily applied, and could account for and describe other larger cage cluster fullerene molecules, as well as more complex higher structures such as nanotubes.