Preparation and Enrichment of Samarium Endohedral Fullerenes

Abstract

A graphite anode packed with a powder mixture of Sm2Co17, SiC, and graphite with a high atomic ratio of Sm/C was vaporized by direct current arc discharge under improved conditions including high helium pressure, low electric current, and wide electrode gap. The soot produced was successively extracted by CS2 and pyridine, and the extracts were processed through column chromatography on silica gel. Matrix-assisted laser desorption−ionization time-of-flight (MALD-TOF) mass spectrometry analysis indicated that a high yield of samarium endohedral fullerenes (Sm@C2n) with Sm@C84 as the most abundant one was achieved. Possible reasons leading to this high yield are discussed.