Formation of metallofullerenes by laser ablation of externally doped fullerenes C60Mx (M=Sm, Pt and Ni)

Abstract

Photofragmentation of metal fullerides C60Mx (M=Sm, Pt and Ni) has been studied by excimer laser ablation–TOF mass spectrometry. Metallofullerenes of the type CnM (n<60) have been observed in both the positive and negative ionic modes, with C59M being the most prominent species. It is supposed that the metal atom is incorporated into the network of the fullerene cage to replace one carbon atom of the cage, forming substitutional metallofullerene. The occurrence of the C59M, C58M, C57M clusters in the mass spectra is confirmed by the coincidence of the intensity distribution of the mass peaks with the isotopic abundance pattern calculated from the natural abundance of isotopes of C and M. Odd-numbered high-carbon clusters are observed in our laser ablation study of all the metal fullerides in the negative ion channel. The evolution of the mass spectra of these samples with laser irradiation shots indicates that the transformation process from an externally doped fullerene to the substitutionally doped fullerene involves the loss of metal carbide, MC. The structures of metallofullerenes C2n+1M and C2nM with even and odd total numbers of atoms respectively are discussed. Formation mechanisms with the participation of odd-numbered all-carbon fullerene clusters as intermediates are supposed.