THE INTERACTION OF C-60 WITH HYDROGEN PLASMA

paper describes the results of molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations of low-energy (14-33 eV) H atom interactions with C-60 molecules and compares the results of these calculations with some experiments. The simulations predict that the initial energy of the C-60 molecules prevents the H atoms from trapping at the centre of the C-60 cage but binding of the H atoms externally to the cage can occur. It is also predicted that, if the interactions were to occur with initially 'cold' C-60 molecules, then trapping of the H atoms at the centre of the cage should be possible. Experiments involving the interaction of a low-energy (approximate to 25 eV) H plasma with C-60 have also been carried out, and these show no evidence of hydrogen implanted within the cage but do suggest that hydrogen is bound externally to the C-60 cage in confirmation of the theoretical predictions.