Buckyballs in space form by SiC grain erosion

 Formation of C60 from silicon carbide grains in evolved stars

Scientists have long been puzzled by the existence of so-called "buckyballs"—complex carbon molecules with a soccer-ball-like structure—throughout interstellar space. Now, a team of researchers from the University of Arizona has proposed a mechanism for their formation in a study published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. Carbon 60, or C₆₀ for short, whose official name is Buckminsterfullerene, comes in spherical molecules consisting of 60 carbon atoms organized in five-membered and six-membered rings. The name "buckyball" derives from their resemblance to the architectural work of Richard Buckminster Fuller, who designed many dome structures that look similar to C₆₀. Their formation was thought to only be possible in lab settings until their detection in space challenged this assumption.

https://phys.org/news/2019-11-mysteries-interstellar-buckyballs.html