Effect of copper metal on the yield of Sc3N@C80 metallofullerenes.

The yield of Sc3N@C80 metallofullerene and fullerene extract is dramatically increased via filling cored graphite rods with copper and Sc2O3 only; when compared to 100% Sc2O3 packed rods, improvements of factors of ∼3 and ∼5 have been achieved for Sc3N@C80 and fullerene extract produced, respectively, with the weight percent of Cu added to the rod affecting the type and amount of fullerene produced.