Formation ofPo@C60

Abstract

Radioactive endohedral fullerenes, $^{210}\mathrm{Po}@{\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ and the dimers, are detected by using radiochemical and radiochromatographic techniques. The results show that a Po atom can be inserted into ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ by a recoil process following a nuclear reaction. Using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations based on the all-electron mixed-basis approach, we also theoretically showed that the formation of a Po doped fullerene is possible. These findings may be useful for several nuclear applications such as nuclear medicine and∕or nuclear waste disposal.