Production and mass spectroscopic characterization of metallocarbon clusters incorporating Sc, Y, and Ca atoms

Metallocarbon dusters of the type YmCn(m = 1-3), ScmCn (m = 1-3), and CamCn (m = 1,2) are produced via the laser-vaporization cluster beam technique. The observed features of the intensity distribution of positive ions in mas s spectra suggest that M@C-n (M = Y, Sc, and Ca; n greater than or equal to 44) and M-2@C-n [M = Y (n greater than or equal to 62) and Sc (n greater t han or equal to 52)] clusters have endohedral mono- and di-metallofullerene structures, respectively. The mass spectral evidence is also consistent wi th the idea that Y2Cn (29 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 59) and Sc2Cn (29 less than or equal to n less than or equal to 49) clusters c ontaining an odd number of carbon atoms form "networked" endohedral structu res such as Y@(YCn) and Sc@(ScCn). (Int J Mass Spectrom 188 (1999) 225-232) (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.