ELECTRON-IMPACT EXCITATION OF C-60 ADDUCTS FLUORESCENCE FROM C60OH AND C60H SPECIES

An investigation concerning possible visible and UV photon emissions b y gas phase C-60 (and C-70) samples under electron impact excitation w as carried out in the 180-750 nm spectral region. No emission from the fullerene molecules was observed. However, radiation resembling OH (A (2) Pi --> X(2) Sigma) emission bands and H Balmer series appeared in this region. We assigned these emissions to simultaneous ionization an d excitation and subsequent radiative decay of C60OH and C60H adducts (which are present in the fullerene samples). These results reveal an interesting new character of buckyball adducts.