An efficient fulleride production system

Abstract

A complete system for the production of the fullerides C60 and C70 is described. Emphasis is placed on efficient, continuous production of high-quality materials. Carbon soot with a content of 2–5% of a mixture of C60 and C70 is prepared from carbon rods with an arc furnace. The mixture is separated from the carbon by using a Soxhlet extractor. The C60 and C70 are separated with a chromotography column in which the solvent is cycled continuously. The separated C60 is purified by sublimation. The C70 is separated from heavier fullerides with a second chromotography procedure. Single crystals of C60 are prepared from pure C60 powder by slow sublimation. The C60 is characterized by mass spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman and infrared spectroscopy. Typical data obtained with these techniques are shown.