Hydrogenation of [60]fullerene using a novel chemical vapour modification (CVM) method

The radical hydrogenation of [60]fullerene has been investigated using a novel chemical vapour modification (CVM) technique. Hydro[60]fullerenes were collected as solid products from the reaction of hydrogen atoms, which are formed at a hot filament surface, with sublimed [60]fullerene. The CVM process parameters such as the time of reaction, hydrogen pressure, filament and substrate temperatures have been optimised. The highest yield of C3v symmetric C60H18 was obtained when a filament temperature of ∼1900 K, which results in a substrate holder temperature of ∼960 K, a reaction time of 30 min and a hydrogen pressure of 20 Torr were used.