Raman spectra of samarium–fullerene intercalation compounds Original Research Article

Samarium–fullerene intercalation compounds of nominal composition SmxC60 (x=1,2,…,6) have been synthesized by a solid-state reaction method. We obtain a Sm2.75C60 superconducting phase with orthogonal structure and a Sm6C60 phase with body-centered cubic structure. The broadening and weakening of Raman peaks of the SmxC60 compounds are due to the distortion of C60 and electron–phonon interaction. The Raman measurements reveal that the distortion of C60 decrease in SmxC60 (x=3,4,5) exposed to air, although the fulleride solids have transformed into an amorphous state. The Raman results also show that the distortion of C60 is still very large in the Sm6C60 exposed to air, or the C60 molecules have been destroyed and become some amorphous carbide.