Photoionisation and photofragmentation of Li@C60

Photoionisation and photofragmentation of endohedral fullerenes are studied by exposure of an effusive molecular beam consisting of Li@C60 molecules to pulsed 193 nm UV laser light. Under both low and high fluence conditions, Li@C60+ ions are detected by use of a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. A fragmentation-free signal of the endohedral species could be detected at very low fluences. At high fluences, C2 fragmentation from Li@C60+ to give Li@C58+ is observed; however, fragmentation in the neutral channel appears to dominate.