Synthesis of small carbon-nitride heterofullerenes

A silver-electroplated graphite rod is arc evaporated in a helium-nitrogen environment at gas pressure of about 450 Torr. Time-of-flight mass spectra for pyridine-extracted soot show the existence of three distinct peaks at 360, 384 and 408 atomic mass units. Although these masses could be assigned to C(30), C(32) and C(34) fullerenes, respectively, the analysis of the isotopic distribution patterns of the mass spectra and Fourier transform infrared measurement suggest the existence of heterofullerene structures, This finding is significant because it provides a new approach for synthesis of small heterofullerenes. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.