LASER-DESORPTION MASS-SPECTROMETRY OF FULLERENE DERIVATIVES - LASER-INDUCED FRAGMENTATION AND COALESCENCE REACTIONS

Laser desorption mass spectrometry was carried out for several fullere ne derivatives (C60O and a series of 6-6 ring-bridge closed adducts of C-60 With bis(ethoxycarbonyl)methylenes C-61(COOEt)(2), C-62(COOEt)(4 ), and C-63(COOEt)(6)) to investigate laser-induced; growth reactions between the desorbed species. A clear correspondance between the size distribution of fragments of the parent species and the desorption-ind uced reaction products indicates an efficient mechanism by which react ive fragments, produced by the desorption laser, aggregate or coalesce . The reaction mechanism and nature of the products were probed throug h fluence dependence studies and the detection of delayed electron emi ssion.