The deuterofullerene C60D24 was prepared from the solid C-60 and was charac
terised by means of XRD, IR and XPS. The C60D24 was found to be a polycryst
alline powder with a FCC lattice and a = 14.55 Angstrom. Deuterium thermal
desorption from C60D24 lends to a reversible formation of fullerene. Howeve
r, the distances between the C-60 molecules become significantly longer com
pared to the initial fullerite. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights r
eserved.