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Orientational Phase Transition In Na_{X}C_{60} (1, T. Yildirim, J. E. Fischer, A. B. Harris, Peter W. Stephens, Dengfa Liu, Laurent Brard, Robert M. Strongin, Amos B. Smith Iii

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

X-ray diffraction and calorimetry data on cubic Na_xC₆₀(1<x60, e.g., T_m(x=1.3)=325 K. The ordered phases are the same as in pure C₆₀: simple cubic, space group Pa3¯, but the orientations in the disordered phase are more restricted. We explain how Na stabilizes the ordered phase to rather high T, while K and Rb do not, in terms of Coulomb interactions between C₆₀ molecules and and Na ions which we calculate from the local charge density of C₆₀.