Formation of $\mathrm{Po}@{\mathrm{C}}_{60}$

Radioactive endohedral fullerenes, ${}^{210}\mathrm{Po}@{\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ and the dimers, are detected by using radiochemical and radiochromatographic techniques. The results show that a Po atom can be inserted into ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ by a recoil process following a nuclear reaction. Using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations based on the all-electron mixed-basis approach, we also theoretically showed that the formation of a Po doped fullerene is possible. These findings may be useful for several nuclear applications such as nuclear medicine and∕or nuclear waste disposal.

Figure 1

HPLC elution behavior of the soluble portion of the crude extracted in the deuteron irradiated sample of ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}+{\mathrm{Bi}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3$. Plotted versus the retention time along the horizontal axis is a histogram of the $\alpha$ counting rate (in counts∕s) measured with a solid-state Si-detector and a solid curve representing a chromatogram measured with an UV detector. (The inserted figure is for three-times-extraction in $\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{S}}_2$ using an ultrasonic apparatus.)

Figure 2

Simulation of Po hitting the center of a six-membered ring of ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ with a kinetic energy of $40\mathrm{eV}$. Here, the local skeleton disappears from the figure when the bond-length is elongated by more than $1.5\mathrm{\AA }$.

Figure 3

Schematic view of a Periodic Table. In the figure, a symbol (section) indicates the elements investigated in the present work. The formation of foreign-atom-doped fullerenes $\left({\mathrm{C}}_{60}\right)$ can be possible in the elements shown by the dark box.