Abstract: Disclosed is a novel structured body of carbon in the form of a particle having electric conductivity comparable with graphite, which has a frustum-formed protrusion formed from a top flat consisting of a single carbon pentagon and a lateral surface consisting of a plurality of carbon hexagons. The structured body of carbon is prepared by a two-stage heat treatment of a carbonaceous material having a carbon pentagon to form a crystalline structure, such as a fullerene compound, in a non-oxidizing atmosphere. The first stage heat treatment is conducted at 800 to 1200° C. to effect complete degradation of the crystalline structure of the starting material into an amorphous state and the second stage heat treatment is conducted at 1800 to 2500° C. to effect re-crystallization but not to cause graphitization.

Abstract: A novel carbonaceous material having a unique periodical annular electronic surface structure as examined by means of a scanning tunnel microscopy can be obtained by the method comprising the steps of: (a) forming a layer of a carbonaceous material having a curved configuration by the method of vapor-phase deposition of a carbonaceous material; and (b) subjecting the vapor-phase deposited layer of the carbonaceous material to a heat treatment at a temperature of 1500 K or higher in a non-oxidizing atmosphere. The novel carbonaceous material is useful for carbon electrodes of various batteries.