Endohedral Formation from Neutron Activation of Interstitial Rare Cas C60Fullerides

摘要

Rare gas interstitial fullerenes, produced by hot isostatic pressing solid C60in the presence of Ar, Kr or Xe, have been neutron irradiated and their behaviour investigated. The activity of the generated radionuclides was found to be in agreement with calculations and this combined with X-ray powder diffraction showed that both the activated radionuclides and the unactivated rare gas remained trapped in the solid after they have been subjected to the harsh conditions encountered in a nuclear reactor. Gamma spectroscopy of the irradiated solids and solutions of them in toluene provided strong evidence for endohedral compound formation. We estimate 1–2% of the activated rare gas atoms, which recoil as a result of prompt gamma emission, end up in the centre of what is most likely too be the C60molecule or some other fullerene derivative. On this basis, we postulate the formation of RN@C6owhere the radionuclide (RN)is125gXe,133gXe,I35gXe,41Ar or85mKr.