Electron energy-loss studies of NaxC60 compounds

The crystal and electronic structure of Na_xC₆₀ (4< x < 10) has been investigated using electron energy-loss spectroscopy in transmission. Electron scattering experiments confirm that the crystal symmetry remains face centered cubic over the entire intercalation range. The electronic structure shows a close similarity for the Na₆C₆₀ and Na₄C₆₀ compounds compared to the corresponding K and Rb systems. Upon intercalation to higher stochiometries up to Na₁₀C₆₀ the charge transfer from sodium to C₆₀ turns out to be incomplete, something that has never been observed before in alkali intercalated systems. Current theoretical calculations indicate that this can be understood by taking into account additional states related to the Na atoms in the octahedral site. In Na₁₀C₆₀ the partial filling of the t_1G level of C₆₀ leads to additional electronic transitions near the Fermi energy.