Optical manifestations of the condensation of topological defects in continuous layer multishell carbon nanoparticles

We report the observation and the explanation of the famous 220 nm spectral feature in UV absorption from continuous layer multishell carbon nanoparticles. Historically, attempts to find this feature in carbon allotropes led to the discovery of the C ₆₀ fullerene. We discerned the physical origin of this feature to be the well-defined pentagonal corner defects in polyhedral multilayer carbon nanoparticles. These new topological columnar defects should have large influence on the electronic properties of nanomaterials and are worthwhile further detail studying.