We have observed new mechanistic insight into the formation of metallic nitride clusterfullerenes from doped graphite by use of laser-based plasma synthesis techniques, analyzed by ultrahigh resolution 9.4 tesla Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry. These online chemical sampling techniques provide a route to investigate underexplored nanocarbon reactions that take place under the harsh conditions of metallofullerene synthesis, and are expected to be applicable to macroscopic production methods. Here, we report efforts to form various clusterfullerenes by laser vaporization and extend these techniques as new avenues for investigation of exohedral functionalization (e.g., fluorination of Sc₃N@C₈₀) and heteroatom-doping of endohedral fullerenes.

This work was supported by NSF Division of Materials Research through DMR-11-57490 and the State of Florida.