Nanostructuring beam-deposited fullerene layers

C₆₀ clustered layers were produced on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite substrates using high-vacuum beam deposition and charge-transfer reduction in a KOH aqueous solution. Electrochemical nanostructuring of the fullerene films is effective: upon electrochemical reduction, nanometre-sized clusters of conductive potassium fullerides are formed in layers at the electrode. The evidence for clustering is illustrated by cyclic voltammetry, x-ray diffraction and scanning tunnelling microscopy.