Synthesis of Fe–C60 complex by ion irradiation

• The Fe+ beam was irradiated to the C60 thin films.
• The Fe+-irradiated C60 thin films were analyzed by LDI-TOF-MS and by HPLC.
• The peak with mass/charge of 776 was observed in the Fe+-irradiated C60 thin film.
• We could synthesize the Fe–C60 complex as a new material.

In order to synthesize the Fe@C60 complex, iron ion beam irradiated to C60 thin films. The energy of the irradiated iron ions was controlled from 50 eV to 250 eV. The dose of that was controlled from 6.67 × 1012 to 6.67 × 1014 ions/cm2. By the analysis of the surface of the iron ion irradiated C60 thin films using laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, we could confirm the peak with mass/charge of 776. The mass/charge of 776 corresponds to Fe + C60. We obtained the maximum intensity of the peak with mass/charge of 776 under the irradiation iron ion energy and the dose were 50 eV and 3.30 × 1013 ions/cm2, respectively. Then, the separation of the material with mass of 776 was performed by using high performance liquid chromatography. We could separate the Fe + C60 from the iron ion irradiated C60 thin film. As a result, we could synthesize the Fe + C60 complex as a new material.