Encapsulation of radioactive isotopes into C60 fullerene cage by recoil implantation technique

Radioactive isotopes 24Na, 34mCl, 65Zn, 69Ge, 71As, 72, 73, 75Se, 77Br, 79Kr, 81Rb, 83Sr, 86Zr and 168Hf with recoil energy ∼3 MeV were implanted in thin film of C60 for the formation of radioactive endohedral fullerenes by recoil implantation technique. The isotopes of interest were produced by 93–120 MeV 16O, 14N beams from Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, Kolkata. Since direct interaction of primary heavy ion beams with the fullerene film was avoided in our experimental condition, the damage or degradation of the fullerene matrix could be reduced to insignificant level. The endohedral fullerenes formed were separated radio-chemically and the probabilities of formation of radioactive endohedral fullerenes from different isotopes were determined by γ-spectrometry.