PRODUCTION AND LDMS CHARACTERIZATION OF ENDOHEDRAL ALKALI-FULLERENE FILMS

Thin films of C-60 in which up to 50% of the fullerenes contain an alk ali ion have ben produced by irradiating successive monolayers of C-60 with an ion beam of appropriate energy. The films have been character ised by laser desorption mass spectrometry. They are stable in air and the endohedral fullerenes can be sublimed. The efficiency of the prod uction method is much higher than any other available method for produ cing endohedral fullerenes and should be generally applicable to other endohedral species. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.