Nanocluster Formation from Laser Ablation of Graphite mixed with Metal Oxides or Boron Nitride

摘要

Laser ablation of graphite mixed with the oxide of a desired metal to be entrapped in the fullerene cage in a heated (approx 1100 deg C) rare gas (e.g.,He,Ar,etc.) is known to be a reliable method for generating a variety of endohedral metallofullerenes, M@C_(60)/M@C_(70) etc.(M = Li,K,Ca,Sr,Ba,Sc,Y,La,Sm,Eu,and Gd).These compounds were analyzed by both time-of-flight (TOF) and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectroscopy.Collisionally activated dissociation,CAD,(C_2 loss resulting in "Shrink-wrapping") experiments similar to Smalley's experiments on photofragmentation of La@C_(60) were performed in order to estimate the "minimum cage size" of each endohedral.