Methylation of C60 Using the Modified Hot Filament Chemical Vapour Deposition Method.

The methylation of C60 was performed via a gas-phase reaction in a CH4/H2 atmosphere using a modified hot filament chemical vapour deposition (HFCVD) method. Pressures were varied from 20-45 torr, substrate temperatures set at 690°C and reaction times up to 15 minutes. High-resolution matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation (MALDI) mass spectrometry was used to determine the synthetic route of the methylated products through accurate mass measurements. The analysis established the production of C60H18-2n(H,CH3)n (n = 1-3). Collision-induced dissociation experiments confirmed a maximum of 18 ligands possible to the C60 cage. The formation of carbon spheres with diameters up to 25 µm on the surface of the tungsten filament subsequent to HFCVD is also reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]