A valence force field based on Hückel’s theory has been developed, which allows us to establish a close correlation between phonons of graphite and the normal modes of small polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (such as coronene and hexabenzocoronene). The results show that in these systems two kinds of motions dominate the Raman spectrum: the Я mode and the “breathing” A mode. These modes are the equivalent, in a finite domain, of the $E_{2g}$ phonon of graphite at the Γ point and the $A^{\prime }$ phonon at the K point of the first Brillouin zone. This study provides a useful basis for the understanding of the Raman spectra of any material containing ${\mathrm{sp}}^2$ carbon domains.

• Received 11 June 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.60.12710