Hydrogenation Of C60 at 2 GPa pressure and high temperature

Hydrogenation Of C-60 at 2 GPa and 723-823 K was performed with thermal decomposition of LiAlH4 as a hydrogen source. Analysis of hydrogenation products showed that the method can produce not only C60H36, but also hydrofullerides C60Hx with 44 < x < 52. Unlike other hydrogenation methods in which pristine C-60 reacts with hydrogen, the high pressure/high temperature conditions result first in C-60 polymerization into a tetragonal phase which later reacts with hydrogen. It is suggested that hydrogen first attacks intermolecular carbon-carbon bonds, resulting in complete depolymerization Of C-60 at a later stage of the hydrogenation process. This model suggests the possibility to select starting points for hydrogenation by choosing specific polymeric structures Of C-60. Hydrogenated polymeric C-60 was identified as an intermediate reaction product. Characterization of highly reduced material was performed by Raman and IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and atmospheric pressure photoionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.