Efficient production of endohedral metallo-fullerenes in gravitation-free arc dischrage by means of a vertical-swing-tower

摘要

Production of endohedral metallofullerenes in gravitation-free arc discharge is investigated by means of a 12-m-high vertical swing tower to confirm the effect of gravitation-free condition, which suppresses thermal convection of hot gas in the are region and enables long-duration hot reaction of large carbon molecules. As a results, production rate of lanthanum metallo- fullerene (La@C_(8260)) in gravitation-free condition prominently increases compared with that in steady-state gravitational condition.