A family of trimetallic nitride endohedral metallofullerenes and their
preparation are described. The trimetallic nitride endohedral
metallofullerenes have the general formula A.sub.3-n X.sub.n @C.sub.m
where n ranges from 0 to 3, A and X may be trivalent metals and may be
either rare earth metal or group IIIB metals, and m is between about 60
and about 200. Further, the A.sub.3-n X.sub.n @C.sub.68, A.sub.3-n X.sub.n
@C.sub.78, A.sub.3-n X.sub.n @C.sub.80 families of endohedral fullerenes
are described. The trimetallic nitride endohedral metallofullerenes are
produced by charging a reactor with a cored graphite rod that has been
filled with a metal oxide graphite mixture. The metal oxides correspond to
the metals for A and X. The graphite rod is arc discharged in a helium and
nitrogen atmosphere to produce the desired trimetallic nitride endohedral
metallofullerenes.