ABSTRACT

The combination of sp3, sp2 and sp hybridized atoms can give rise to a large number of carbon allotropic forms and phases, but only carbon solids based on all sp3 (diamond) and sp2 (graphite, fullerene) hybridization are well known and characterized [1]. In addition there are innumerable transitional forms of carbon where sp2 and sp3 hybridization bonds co-exist in the same

solid such as in amorphous carbon, carbon black, soot, cokes, glassy carbon etc [2-4].