Electron impact excitation of C60 adducts; fluorescence from C60OH and C60H species

An investigation concerning possible visible and UV photon emissions by gas phase C60 (and C70) samples under electron impact excitation was carried out in the 180–750 nm spectral region. No emission from the fullerene molecules was observed. However, radiation resembling OH (A2Π → X2gS) emission bands and H Balmer series appeared in this region. We assigned these emissions to simultaneous ionization and excitation and subsequent radiative decay of C60OH and C60H adducts (which are present in the fullerene samples). These results reveal an interesting new character of buckyball adducts.