Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Low-Energy C₆₀ in Collision with a Graphite (0001) Surface

The collision of C₆₀ with a graphite (0001) surface has been investigated by molecular dynamics simulation with TLHL potential. At an impact energy of 90eV, the C₆₀ buckyball first deformed to a disc-like structure and then transformed back to its original shape and recoiled slowly. No dissociation of the C₆₀ was observed on the time scale of the simulation. Unlike a single-atom-surface collision, the C₆₀ -surface interaction is a highly inelastic process.