Photochemistry of solid C60 with tunable infrared radiation

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with trains of picosecond infrared (IR) pulses, tuned over the 8–15 μm range, is studied. At some specific wavelengths, white-light emission as well as ejection of ionic species from the solid is observed. The spectral characteristics of the white-light emission resemble those of a black body. The mass distribution of the ejected ionic species shows substantial amounts of C₆₀ coalescence products. Unexpectedly, all these processes only occur at wavelengths where solid C₆₀ is relatively transparent. No white-light emission nor ejection of ionic species is observed when being resonant with an IR-allowed transition of C₆₀. It is concluded that regular C₆₀ is not the chromophore for the observed processes, and that sequential absorption of single photons by a strong absorber that is dilute in the crystal takes place. Plausible chromophores are sites that are intercalated with alkali metals. Accumulation of energy at these sites leads to fullerene coalescence in the solid, ion ejection, and white-light emission, ultimately resulting in the destruction of the C₆₀ molecules.