Method of making a superconducting fullerene composition by reacting a fullerene with an alloy containing alkali metal

• US 5,196,396 A
• Filed: 07/16/1991
• Issued: 03/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation)
• Original Assignee: President and Fellows of Harvard College (Harvard Corporation)
• Inventors: Lieber, Charles M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieberman, Paul
• Assistant Examiner(s): Swope, Bradley A.
• Application Number:
  US07/730,737
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 505/1, 505/725, 505/802, 505/815, 505/810, 252/500, 252/502, 423/414
• US Class Current: 505/460
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 40/00 Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/15 Nano-sized carbon materials
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/156 After-treatment
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 60/853 Fullerene superconductors, e.g. soccer ball-shaped allotropes of carbon, e.g. C60 or C94
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 505/725 Process of making or treating high tc, above 30 k, superconducting shaped material, article, or device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 505/802 Organic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 505/811 Organic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 505/815 Process of making per se
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/735 Carbon buckyball

Abstract

A method for making a superconducting fullerine composition, includes reacting a fullerine with an alloy, and particularly reacting C₆₀ with a binary alloy including an alkali metal or a tertiary alloy including two alkali metals in the vapor phase. Also, a Cesium-doped fullerine high T_c superconducting composition has the formula Cs_x C₆₀, and particularly Cs₃ C₆₀. Also, a homogeneous bulk single phase high T_c superconducting composition has the formula (Rb_x K_1-x)₃ C₆₀.

Claims

1. A method for making a superconducting fullerene composition having the formula (M)_x C₆₀ wherein x is in the range between about 1.5 and about 3 and wherein M is one or more alkali metals, comprising reacting a C₆₀ fullerene with an alloy wherein said alloy is a binary alloy containing an alkali metal or a ternary alloy containing at least two different alkali metals.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said binary alloy includes K, Rb, or Cs.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said ternary alloy includes any two of K, Rb, or Cs.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said alloy further includes one of Hg, Tl, or Bi.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said alloy has the formula M¹_y M²_1-y M³, wherein 0≦

y≦

1 and wherein each of M¹ and M² is an alkali metal.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein y=1 and M¹ is one of K, Rb, or Cs.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein y<

1 and M¹ and M² are two of K, Rb, or Cs.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein M³ is one of Hg, Tl, or Bi.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein x is about 3.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said alloy is CsM, M being one of Hg, Tl, or Bi.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said alloy is CsHg₁.1.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said alloy is CsTl₂.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein said alloy is CsBi.

14. The method of claim 1 or 5 wherein said reacting step includes exposing a preparation comprising said fullerene with a vapor phase comprising said alloy.

15. The method of claim 1 or 5 wherein said reacting step includes exposing said fullerene preparation to said alloy for a time less than about 3 hours.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said reacting step includes exposing said fullerene preparation to said alloy for a time in the range between about 1 hour and about 3 hours.