A novel synthetic route to the formation of less air sensitive fullerene superconductors by mixing oxygen-containing alkaline compounds with C60 has been discovered. A high-resolution single-crystal x-ray study on the K-doped samples shows that the ratio of potassium to C60 is not 3:1. The observed stability enhancement and the off-stoichiometry of potassium content may originate from the presence of oxygen which serves as an oxidative agent.
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