Highly oxygenated fullerene anions C 60O n− formed by corona discharge ionization in the gas phase

Abstract

Oxygenated fullerenes anions were produced by a vaporization source equipped with a corona discharge ionizer in the presence of a trace amount of oxygen. In situ mass analysis revealed that the species formulated as C 60O n − ( n⩽30) were formed in the source and that the degree of oxygenation could be altered by the discharge current. Formation of the epoxide structure in the C 60O n − was suggested by XPS measurements for thin films prepared by deposition of the C 60O n − beam. The structures and formation processes of higher analogues (C 60) m O n − ( m=2,3) are briefly discussed.