A solid phase or form of carbon is based on fullerenes with thirty six carbon atoms (C₃₆). The C₃₆ structure with D_6h symmetry is one of the two most energetically favorable, and is conducive to forming a periodic system. The lowest energy crystal is a highly bonded network of hexagonal planes of C₃₆ subunits with AB stacking. The C₃₆ solid is not a purely van der Waals solid, but has covalent-like bonding, leading to a solid with enhanced structural rigidity. The solid C₃₆ material is made by synthesizing and selecting out C₃₆ fullerenes in relatively large quantities. A C₃₆ rich fullerene soot is produced in a helium environment arc discharge chamber by operating at an optimum helium pressure (400 torr). The C₃₆ is separated from the soot by a two step process. The soot is first treated with a first solvent, e.g. toluene, to remove the higher order fullerenes but leave the C₃₆. The soot is then treated with a second solvent, e.g. pyridine, which is more polarizable than the first solvent used for the larger fullerenes. The second solvent extracts the C₃₆ from the soot. Thin films and powders can then be produced from the extracted C₃₆. Other materials are based on C₃₆ fullerenes, providing for different properties.