Laboratory evidence for the formation of hydrogenated fullerene molecules.

Abstract

Experimental evidence for the formation of hydrogenated fullerene molecules is presented. Films of C₆₀ were grown on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (substrate) and exposed to a beam of deuterium atoms. Thermal desorption combined with mass spectrometry was used to determine the deuterated fullerene products formed, revealing a maximum degree of deuteration corresponding to C₆₀D₃₆. Release of D₂ from the deuterated C₆₀ film occurs at a much higher temperature than for D-saturated graphite.