Thermionic emission from fullerenes

We investigate the time dependence of carbon cluster ions, formed via thermionic emission from photoexcited fullerenes (C₆₀ and C₇₀). By pulsing the extraction field, we are able to observe delayed ions formed as late as 100 µs after excitation at 532 nm, 355 nm, or 266 nm. All even-sized clusters in the range 36 n 70 undergo thermionic emission.