Evidence of kinetic trapping in clusters of C60 molecules

The formation of C60 clusters was shown to be completely dominated by kinetic trapping effects using molecular dynamics simulations. Results showed that even if a sticky intermolecular potential energetically disfavors icosahedral structures, they are produced due to enhancement in kinetic trapping phenomena. Experimental magic numbers associated with structures based on Mackay icosahedra, were thus proved to be of kinetic origin.