Surface-induced reactions of Cn+, 50⩽n⩽60

Singly charged fullerene ions Cn+, where 50⩽n⩽60, have been collided with a hydrocarbon-covered stainless steel surface. Fragmentation and pickup reactions are measured as a function of the collision energy. Compared to C60+, ions with n⩽58 fragment much more strongly. This is attributed to the fact that the initial excitation energy in these projectiles, which are formed from C60 by electron impact ionization, is higher. However, identical values of 6.8%±0.5% are derived for the conversion efficiency of translational into internal energy.