ENDOHEDRAL FULLERENE FORMATION THROUGH PROMPT GAMMA-RECOIL

Neutron activation of rare gases trapped interstitially in the lattice of C-60 has been studied. Gamma spectroscopy of the neutron irradiate d solids and solutions of them in toluene provided strong evidence tha t 1-2% of the activated rare gas atoms, which recoil as a result of pr ompt gamma emission following neutron activation, became entrapped in what is most likely to be the C-60 molecule or some other fullerene de rivative. From these results we postulate the formation of RN@C-60 whe re the radionuclide (RN) is Xe-125g, Xe-133g, Xe-135g, Ar-41 or Kr-85m .