Thermal decomposition of C60 was studied by x-ray diffraction and time-of-flight mass spectroscopy, which was carried out in a high-purity argon gas for 3h at the temperature ranging from 500 to 1000•Ž. The diffraction peaks corresponding to C60 of cubic system were detected in the samples heated below 500•Ž. With the increase of temperature, these peaks of C60 were broadened, and the diffraction peaks corresponding to chaoite of hexagonal system were detected. From time-of-flight spectroscopy,

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... it was found that two molecules of C22 and C48 were produced by heating C60 at 600•Ž, though not resolved C60 remained. The decomposition of C60 advanced with the increase of temperature. At 1000•Ž, it was found that C60 was decomposed into five molecules, such as C9, C22, C25, C35 and C48.