Synthesis Of Endohedral Fullerenes Research Articles

Synthesis of endohedral-fullerenes using laser ablation plasma from solid material and vaporized fullerenes

We have recently developed a technique to synthesize endohedral fullerenes that involves the collision of vaporized fullerenes and plasma particles produced following the laser ablation of a solid material. Using this technique, we synthesized N@C60 using a boron nitride rod as the source of the plasma particles. Optical emission measurements showed that the kinetic energy of N+ ions could be controlled from 20 to 65 eV by changing the energy of the incident laser beam. The synthesis of N@C60 was performed with a N+ kinetic energy of 65 eV, a C60 vaporizing temperature of 800 °C, and a total reaction time of one hour. By optimizing the kinetic energy for producing the encapsulated particles, we were able to synthesis N@C60 with a purity of 4.52 x 10−3%. The purity of our material was two orders of magnitude higher than that achieved using alternative physical synthetic methods that use solid materials, such as arc discharge and co-evaporation methods.

Surgery of fullerenes

Recent attempts at the synthesis of endohedral fullerenes by organic reactions, so-called "molecular surgery" methods, are surveyed. The creation of an opening on the surface of fullerene cages allowed insertion of He, H(2), H(2)O, or CO within the cages. An effective route to "suture" an opening was established to realize a new endohedral fullerene, H(2)@C(60). Further development of this operation as well as the properties and reactions of H(2)@C(60) are summarized. Also the application of the encapsulated H(2) molecule as an NMR probe for the study of aromaticity of ionic fullerenes is described.