Process for preparing alkali metal-doped fullerenes

US5223479A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania · US

Inventors

• John McCauley · Wilmington, US
• Qing Zhu · Mansfield Center, US
• Gavin Vaughan · Philadelphia, US
• Nicole Coustel · Philadelphia, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 1, 1991
• Grant date: Jun 29, 1993
• Expiry date: Aug 1, 2011

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S505/815
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Superconducting, metal-doped fullerenes are provided, along with processes for their preparation in relatively high stoichiometric purity. In one embodiment, the processes provide fullerenes of the formula M.sub.3 C.sub.60 where M is an alkali metal. The processes comprise contacting C.sub.60 with alkali metal in an amount and under reaction conditions effective to produce a compound having the formula M.sub.y C.sub.60, where y is greater than 3, and contacting said M.sub.y C.sub.60 with a portion of C.sub.60 in an amount and under reaction conditions effective to produce said M.sub.3 C.sub.60.