Photodissociation of exohedral transition metal-C-60 complexes

Laser ablation/vaporization of solid metal samples coated with thin films o f C-60 is employed in a pulsed-nozzle cluster source to produce various tra nsition metal-C,,, complexes. Mass spectra contain species of the form M-X( C-60)(Y), where x = 1-5 and y = 1,2. Mass-selected photodissociation studie s investigate the structural and bonding properties of these complexes. Pho todissociation shows primarily the elimination of metal in all complexes, d emonstrating that the complexes are exohedral. Atomic and molecular desorpt ion of metal are observed in different situations, suggesting that these co mplexes have metal dispersed to some degree as "films" on the fullerene sur face. Some clusters fragment by loss of metal carbides (e.g. C59Fe+, V3C4+) , indicating insertion of metal into the fullerene cage wall. (C) 2001 Else vier Science B.V.