Electron paramagnetic resonance investigation of metalloendofullerene derived carbon nanotube peapods.

Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNT) prepared by the "super growth" method and arc-grown material were used as templates for peapod preparation with La@C(82). A qualitative change of the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) properties of La@C(82) is observed after incorporation into SWNT. The loss of lanthanum hyperfine interaction in combination with the observed increase of EPR susceptibility by two orders of magnitude after peapod preparation when comparing with signals from "empty" tubes is indicative for the generation of itinerant spins by charge and spin transfer from La@C(82) to the tubes. This interpretation is supported by the observation of fast spin dephasing, detected with pulsed EPR techniques.