Synthesis of Lanthanofullerenes by Laser Ablation Using Pulsed and CW-Nd:YAG Lasers

Abstract Endohedral lanthanum fullerenes, La@C60, La@C82 and La2C80, were synthesized by ablation of graphite and La2O3 in flowing Ar buffer gas with a 1064 nm beam from a pulsed-Nd: YAG laser in which the graphite was heated by the CW-Nd:YAG laser up to 2500 °C. The La-fullerenes were also prepared by laser ablation of a lanthanum-graphite composite rod. The extractant fullerenes from the carbon soot were analyzed by laser-desorption time of flight mass spectrometry (LD-TOF MS). The relative yield of La@C82, increased with increasing temperature of the rod in the range of 700-2300 °C.