Fullerene quantum gyroscope

Regulating the electronic and spin structure of endohedral metallofullerenes: a case investigation of Sc3N@C80 and Sc3C2@C80

The electrochemical and paramagnetic properties of endohedral metallofullerenes (EMFs) have drawn extensive attention due to their huge potential in the fields of molecular devices, biomedicines, quantum information processing, etc. Exohedral modification of the fullerene carbon cage, such as in the classical Prato reaction, is an effective and facile approach to regulate the electronic structure and molecular dynamics of EMFs. In this work, novel pyrrolidine products of Sc₃N@C₈₀ and Sc₃C₂@C₈₀ were successfully synthesized via Prato reactions using L-cysteine and paraformaldehyde. Structure characterizations demonstrated that two regioisomers with a [5,6] and a [6,6] cycloaddition on the I_h-C₈₀ cage were obtained both for Sc₃N@C₈₀ and Sc₃C₂@C₈₀. Besides, the [6,6]-monoadduct of Sc₃N@C₈₀ was thermally stable while the [5,6]-monoadduct exhibited a retro-cycloaddition ability to recover the pristine Sc₃N@C₈₀. Electrochemical measurements revealed that the redox potential of Sc₃N@C₈₀ could be tuned via such exohedral modifications. Furthermore, the paramagnetic property and internal dynamics of the encapsulated Sc₃C₂ cluster of Sc₃C₂@C₈₀ can be well-regulated by controlling the spin density of the molecule. The present work could provide a new approach to regulate the electronic and/or spin structure of EMFs.

Stabilities, Geometries, Electronic Structures, and Conversion Rules of Carbide Cluster Metallofullerenes

Since the discovery of the first carbide cluster metallofullerene (CCMF) Sc₂ C₂ @C₈₄ in 2001, CCMFs have attracted great concerns with variable structures and fascinating characteristics. To date, there are hundreds of studies on CCMFs. Crystallography studies on CCMFs are carried out by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Theoretical calculations can also be used to study CCMFs in detail without being limited by low experimental yields. This review analyzes the stability of CCMFs reported previously, and indicates that the C₂ unit contributes a lot to their stability. At the same time, the relationship between the structures of inner carbide cluster and cage size is systematically discussed, and the four-electron transfer always occurs. Furthermore, the possible transformation rule between di-EMFs and CCMFs is indicated. Finally, an outlook regarding the future developments and applications of CCMFs is presented.

Exploring seebeck-coefficient fluctuations in endohedral-fullerene, single-molecule junctions

For the purpose of creating single-molecule junctions, which can convert a temperature difference ΔT into a voltage ΔV via the Seebeck effect, it is of interest to screen molecules for their potential to deliver high values of the Seebeck coefficient S = -ΔV/ΔT. Here we demonstrate that insight into molecular-scale thermoelectricity can be obtained by examining the widths and extreme values of Seebeck histograms. Using a combination of experimental scanning-tunnelling-microscopy-based transport measurements and density-functional-theory-based transport calculations, we study the electrical conductance and Seebeck coefficient of three endohedral metallofullerenes (EMFs) Sc₃N@C₈₀, Sc₃C₂@C₈₀, and Er₃N@C₈₀, which based on their structures, are selected to exhibit different degrees of charge inhomogeneity and geometrical disorder within a junction. We demonstrate that standard deviations in the Seebeck coefficient σ_S of EMF-based junctions are correlated with the geometric standard deviation σ and the charge inhomogeneity σ_q. We benchmark these molecules against C₆₀ and demonstrate that both σ_q, σ_S are the largest for Sc₃C₂@C₈₀, both are the smallest for C₆₀ and for the other EMFs, they follow the order Sc₃C₂@C₈₀ > Sc₃N@C₈₀ > Er₃N@C₈₀ > C₆₀. A large value of σ_S is a sign that a molecule can exhibit a wide range of Seebeck coefficients, which means that if orientations corresponding to high values can be selected and controlled, then the molecule has the potential to exhibit high-performance thermoelectricity. For the EMFs studied here, large values of σ_S are associated with distributions of Seebeck coefficients containing both positive and negative signs, which reveals that all these EMFs are bi-thermoelectric materials.

The Effect of the Polyaromatic Hydrocarbon in the Formation of Fullerenes

Tremendous advances in nanoscience have been made since the discovery of fullerenes. However, the short timescale of the growth process and high-energy conditions of synthesis result in severe constraints to investigation of the mechanism of fullerene formation. In this work, we attempted to reveal the formation process by analyzing the variation in the yield of fullerenes under different conditions. Experiments and theoretical analysis show that the formation of fullerenes could be affected by the addition of polycyclic aromatic compounds. It is proposed that the formation of C₆₀ during arc-discharge synthesis is fragment assembling, while the yield of C_2m (m=35, 38, 39) is strongly enhanced by building-block splicing. In addition, several features of the building blocks are put forward to predict the extent of their influence to the formation of larger fullerenes C_2n (n≥42). This work not only provides essential insight into the formation process of fullerenes, but more importantly also paves the way to improving the yield of larger fullerenes selectively.

When metal clusters meet carbon cages: endohedral clusterfullerenes

Fullerenes have the characteristic of a hollow interior, and this unique feature triggers intuitive inspiration to entrap atoms, ions or clusters inside the carbon cage in the form of endohedral fullerenes. In particular, upon entrapping an otherwise unstable metal cluster into a carbon cage, the so-called endohedral clusterfullerenes fulfil the mutual stabilization of the inner metal cluster and the outer fullerene cage with a specific isomeric structure which is often unstable as an empty fullerene. A variety of metal clusters have been reported to form endohedral clusterfullerenes, including metal nitrides, carbides, oxides, sulfides, cyanides and so on, making endohedral clusterfullerenes the most variable and intriguing branch of endohedral fullerenes. In this review article, we present an exhaustive review on all types of endohedral clusterfullerenes reported to date, including their discoveries, syntheses, separations, molecular structures and properties as well as their potential applications in versatile fields such as biomedicine, energy conversion, and so on. At the end, we present an outlook on the prospect of endohedral clusterfullerenes.

A temperature-responsive C2 wagging vibration in Sc2C2@Cs-C82

A special temperature-dependent C₂ wagging vibration at 225 cm⁻¹ in Sc₂C₂@C_s-C₈₂ is described by Raman spectroscopy and quantum-chemical calculations.

Dimetallofullerene M2@C100 or carbide cluster fullerene M2C2@C98 (M = La, Y, and Sc): which ones are more stable?

The geometric and thermodynamic stability of the M₂C₁₀₀ (M = La, Y, and Sc) series was systematically investigated using density functional theory calculations on the level of B3LYP/6-31G(d) ∼ Lanl2dz.

Another big discovery-metallofullerenes

Several days after the first experimental observation of the 'magic number' soccerball-shaped C60 in a laser-vaporized cluster beam mass spectrum by Kroto and co-workers (Heath et al 1985 J. Am. Chem. Soc. 107, 7779-7780. (doi:10.1021/ja00311a102)) they also found a magic number feature owing to La@C60 in a mass spectrum prepared by laser vaporization of a LaCl3-impregnated graphite rod. With the advent of macroscopic synthesis and the following successful separation and purification of metallofullerenes, both experimental and theoretical studies of metallofullerenes have developed quite rapidly to date so as to elucidate their structural, electronic, magnetic and transport properties. Furthermore, a bottom-up closed network growth mechanism has experimentally been shown to play a crucial role in generating various types of metallofullerenes.This article is part of the themed issue 'Fullerenes: past, present and future, celebrating the 30th anniversary of Buckminster Fullerene'.

A Molecular Rotor Possessing an H-M-H "Spoke" on a P-M-P "Axle": A Platinum(II) trans-Dihydride Spins Rapidly Even at 75 K

A new class of low-barrier molecular rotors, metal trans-dihydrides, is suggested here. To test whether rapid rotation can be achieved, the known complex trans-H2Pt(P(t)Bu3)2 was experimentally studied by (2)H and (195)Pt solid-state NMR spectroscopy (powder pattern changes with temperature) and computationally modeled as a (t)Bu3P-Pt-P(t)Bu3 stator with a spinning H-Pt-H rotator. Whereas the related chloro-hydride complex, trans-H(Cl)Pt(P(t)Bu3)2, does not show rotational behavior at room temperature, the dihydride trans-H2Pt(P(t)Bu3)2 rotates fast on the NMR time scale, even at low temperatures down to at least 75 K. The highest barrier to rotation is estimated to be ∼3 kcal mol(-1), for the roughly 3 Å long rotator in trans-H2Pt(P(t)Bu3)2.

Molecular magnetic switch for a metallofullerene

The endohedral fullerenes lead to well-protected internal species by the fullerene cages, and even highly reactive radicals can be stabilized. However, the manipulation of the magnetic properties of these radicals from outside remains challenging. Here we report a system of a paramagnetic metallofullerene Sc₃C₂@C₈₀ connected to a nitroxide radical, to achieve the remote control of the magnetic properties of the metallofullerene. The remote nitroxide group serves as a magnetic switch for the electronic spin resonance (ESR) signals of Sc₃C₂@C₈₀ via spin–spin interactions. Briefly, the nitroxide radical group can ‘switch off’ the ESR signals of the Sc₃C₂@C₈₀ moiety. Moreover, the strength of spin–spin interactions between Sc₃C₂@C₈₀ and the nitroxide group can be manipulated by changing the distance between these two spin centres. In addition, the ESR signals of the Sc₃C₂@C₈₀ moiety can be switched on at low temperatures through weakened spin–lattice interactions.

Endohedral fullerenes are known to stabilize reactive radicals; however, the external magnetic manipulation of these species’ remains challenging. Here, the authors link a nitroxide radical to a paramagnetic fullerene system and are able to alter the spin behaviour of the fullerene via spin–spin interactions.

Tuneable dynamics of a scandium nitride cluster inside an Ih-C80 cage

The internal clusters in metallofullerenes usually exhibit certain motion that is potentially usable in molecular gyroscopes and nano-machines. Based on (45)Sc NMR, the motion of the scandium nitride cluster within the C80 cage was investigated via varying the temperature and modifying the cage, and by changing the cluster size.

A computational study on Sc2S@C68 and Sc2O2@C68

In order to predict the structures of the detected and assumed endohedral metallofullerene Sc₂S@C₆₈, and Sc₂O₂@C₆₈, and provide insights into their properties, the isomers of C₆₈ and tens of candidate isomers of Sc₂S@C₆₈ and Sc₂O₂@C₆₈ were studied.

Theoretical study on experimentally detected Sc2S@C84

Sc(2)S@C(84) has recently been detected but not structurally characterized.1 Density functional theory calculations on C(84) and Sc(2)S@C(84) show that the favored isomer of Sc(2)S@C84 shares the same parent cage as Sc(2)C2@C(84), whereas Sc(2)S@C(84):51383, which violates the isolated-pentagon rule, is the second lowest energy isomer with the widest HOMO-LUMO gap and shows high kinetic stability. The analysis shows that Sc(2)S@C(84):51575 is favored when the temperature exceeds 2,800 K and it can transform into the most favorable isomer Sc(2)S@C(84):51591. Molecular orbital analysis indicates that both Sc(2)S and Sc(2)C(2) formally transfer four electrons to the cage, and quantum theory of atoms in molecules analysis demonstrates that there is a covalent interaction between Sc(2)S and C(84):51591. The IR spectra of Sc(2)S@C(84) are provided to aid future structural identification.

Infrared spectroscopy of small-molecule endofullerenes

Hydrogen is one of the few molecules that has been incarcerated in the molecular cage of C₆₀ to form the endohedral supramolecular complex H₂@C₆₀. In this confinement, hydrogen acquires new properties. Its translation motion, within the C₆₀ cavity, becomes quantized, is correlated with its rotation and breaks inversion symmetry that induces infrared (IR) activity of H₂. We apply IR spectroscopy to study the dynamics of hydrogen isotopologues H₂, D₂ and HD incarcerated in C₆₀. The translation and rotation modes appear as side bands to the hydrogen vibration mode in the mid-IR part of the absorption spectrum. Because of the large mass difference of hydrogen and C₆₀ and the high symmetry of C₆₀ the problem is almost identical to a vibrating rotor moving in a three-dimensional spherical potential. We derive potential, rotation, vibration and dipole moment parameters from the analysis of the IR absorption spectra. Our results were used to derive the parameters of a pairwise additive five-dimensional potential energy surface for H₂@C₆₀. The same parameters were used to predict H₂ energies inside C₇₀. We compare the predicted energies and the low-temperature IR absorption spectra of H₂@C₇₀.

Spin-active metallofullerene stabilized by the core of an NC moiety

A paramagnetic Sc(3)NC@C(80) anion radical was obtained by chemical reduction. ESR spectrometry and theoretical calculations disclosed that the core NC moiety takes possession of the unpaired electron and stabilizes the paramagnetic species. It is the first time a paramagnetic metal cyanide metallofullerene has been obtained.

Fullerenes encaging metal clusters--clusterfullerenes

Clusterfullerenes represent a novel branch of endohedral fullerenes, which are characterized by a robust fullerene cage with metal clusters encaged in its hollow. Since the discovery of nitride clusterfullerenes (NCFs) in 1999, the family of clusterfullerenes has been significantly expanded within the past decade, with new members including carbide clusterfullerenes (CCFs), hydrocarbide clusterfullerenes (HCCFs), oxide clusterfullerenes (OCFs), sulfide clusterfullerenes (SCFs), and carbonitride clusterfullerenes (CNCFs). We first present the classification of clusterfullerenes and list all the clusterfullerenes reported to date. For each type of clusterfullerenes, we review in detail their synthesis, separation, intriguing molecular structures and properties. For NCFs, as the first and most important clusterfullerenes, we point out the significance of their discovery and focus on their new synthesis and separation methods as well as the new advances. Finally the potential applications of clusterfullerenes are addressed. We conclude that clusterfullerenes appear to be the fastest growing family of endohedral fullerenes up to now, and emphasize the importance of exploring new structures and chemical functionalizations of clusterfullerenes.

Metal sulfide in a C82 fullerene cage: a new form of endohedral clusterfullerenes

The row of endohedral fullerenes is extended by a new type of sulfur-containing clusterfullerenes: the metal sulfide (M(2)S) has been stabilized within a fullerene cage for the first time. The new sulfur-containing clusterfullerenes M(2)S@C(82)-C(3v)(8) have been isolated for a variety of metals (M = Sc, Y, Dy, and Lu). The UV-vis-NIR, electrochemical, and FTIR spectroscopic characterization and extended DFT calculations point to a close similarity of the M(2)S@C(82) cage isomeric and electronic structure to that of the carbide clusterfullerenes M(2)C(2)@C(2n). The bonding in M(2)S@C(82) is studied in detail by molecular orbital analysis as well as with the use of quantum theory of atom-in-molecules (QTAIM) and electron localization function (ELF) approaches. The metal sulfide cluster formally transfers four electrons to the carbon cage, and metal-sulfur and metal-carbon cage bonds with a high degree of covalency are formed. Molecular dynamics simulations show that Sc(2)S cluster exhibits an almost free rotation around the C(3) axis of the carbon cage, resulting thus in a single line (45)Sc NMR spectrum.

Russian-doll-type metal carbide endofullerene: synthesis, isolation, and characterization of Sc4C2@C80

For the first time, we have produced the stable compound Sc(4)C(2)@C(80)-I(h) and characterized it as a metal carbide endofullerene by FTIR and Raman spectroscopies in combination with DFT calculations. Furthermore, DFT calculations have demonstrated that this molecule has a Russian-doll-type structure, C(2)@Sc(4)@C(80).

Switchable ErSc2N rotor within a C80 fullerene cage: an electron paramagnetic resonance and photoluminescence excitation study

Motivated by the possibility of observing photoluminescence and electron paramagnetic resonance from the same species located within a fullerene molecule, we initiated an EPR study of Er3+ in ErSc2N@C80. Two orientations of the ErSc2N rotor within the C80 fullerene are observed in EPR, consistent with earlier studies using photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectroscopy. For some crystal field orientations, electron spin relaxation is driven by an Orbach process via the first excited electronic state of the 4I(15/2) multiplet. We observe a change in the relative populations of the two ErSc2N configurations upon the application of 532 nm illumination, and are thus able to switch the majority cage symmetry. This photoisomerization, observable by both EPR and PLE, is metastable, lasting many hours at 20 K.

Which do endohedral Ti2C80 metallofullerenes prefer energetically: Ti2@C80 or Ti2C2@C78? A theoretical study

Four possible isomers of the Ti2C80 metallofullerene are discussed in detail at the B3LYP DFT level of theory: two isomers in Ti2@C80 formula with two Ti atoms encapsulated inside a C80 cage and the other two in Ti2C2@C78 formula with a Ti2C2 cluster involved inside a C78 cage. In the encaged Ti2C2 cluster, there are end-on and side-on C2 bridging modes into the two Ti atoms. The optimized end-on cluster has a linear Ti-C-C-Ti array, whereas the side-on cluster has a butterfly-like structure where the two Ti atoms and the C2 unit do not lie in a plane. DFT calculations show that the Ti2C2@C78 molecule with the end-on Ti2C2 cluster is energetically most favorable in the four isomers. Stabilities of the Ti2C80 molecules are essentially dominated by Ti binding sites inside fullerene cages. The Ti atoms bind over the hexagon rings in preference to a junction between hexagon and pentagon rings. In the Ti2C2@C78 molecules, orbital interactions between the Ti2C2 cluster and the outer cage play a significant role in determining the C2 bridging modes into the dititanium center and their relative stabilities.

C64H4: production, isolation, and structural characterizations of a stable unconventional fulleride

Unconventional fullerenes are those smaller than C(60) or those intermediate between C(60) and C(70), which are not stable in structure as none of the unconventional fullerene isomers satisfying the "isolated-pentagon-rule" (IPR). Below we report the synthesis of a stable unconventional fullerene derivative C(64)H(4) by introducing methane in the fullerene productions with the normal Krätschmer-Huffman method. We also applied various spectroscopic measurements such as mass spectrometry, (13)C NMR, IR, UV-vis absorption spectrometry, etc. to characterize the structural and electronic properties of this molecule, revealing an unprecedented fullerene cage with a triplet of directly fused pentagons in the framework of C(64)H(4). Four hydrogen atoms are added to the carbons at vertexes of fused pentagons to allow the bond angles at these sites close to the sp(3) tetrahedral angle, which essentially release the sp(2) bond strains on the abutting-pentagon sites of C(64). Ab initio calculations were performed to explore the electronic property and simulate the (13)C NMR and IR spectra of this fulleride, which reproduced well the experimental results and confirmed the structural assignment of the C(64)H(4).

Unprecedented mu4-C2(6-) anion in Sc4C2@C80

Metal carbide compound containing highly charged C2(q-) (q = 5, 6) moiety is rather scarce. We show by means of density functional calculations that an unprecedented mu4-C2(6-) anion can viably exist as an endohedral [Sc4C2]6+ cluster in the endofullerene Sc4C2@C80. The electronic structure, ionization energy, electron affinity, 13C NMR chemical shifts, vibrational frequencies, and electrochemical redox potentials of this unique endofullerene have been predicted to assist future experimental characterization.

Superposition of quantum and classical rotational motions in Sc2C2@C84 fullerite

The superposition of the quantum rotational motion (tunneling) of the encapsulated Sc(2)C(2) complex with the classical rotational motion of the surrounding C(84) molecule in a powder crystal of Sc(2)C(2)@C(84) fullerite is investigated by theory. Since the quantum rotor is dragged along by the C(84) molecule, any detection method which couples to the quantum rotor (in casu the C(2) bond of the Sc(2)C(2) complex) also probes the thermally excited classical motion (uniaxial rotational diffusion and stochastic meroaxial jumps) of the surrounding fullerene. The dynamic rotation-rotation response functions in frequency space are obtained as convolutions of quantum and classical dynamic correlation functions. The corresponding Raman scattering laws are derived, and the overall shape of the spectra and the width of the resonance lines are studied as functions of temperature. The results of the theory are confronted with experimental low-frequency Raman spectra on powder crystals of Sc(2)C(2)@C(84) [M. Krause et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 137403 (2004)]. The agreement of theory with experiment is very satisfactory in a broad temperature range.

Vibrational Structure of Endohedral Fullerene Sc3N@C78 (D3h′): Evidence for a Strong Coupling between the Sc3N Cluster and C78 Cage

The vibrational structure of the endohedral cluster fullerene Sc(3)N@C(78) is studied by FTIR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and DFT-based quantum chemical calculations. Remarkably good agreement between experimental and calculated spectra is achieved and a full assignment of the Sc(3)N-based vibrational modes is given. Significant differences in the vibrational structure of the endohedral cluster fullerene Sc(3)N@C(78) and the empty, charged C(78) (6-): 5 (D(3h)') are rationalized by the strong coupling between the Sc(3)N cluster and the fullerene cage. This coupling has its origin in a significant overlap of the Sc(3)N and C(78) molecular orbitals, and causes atomic-charge and bond-length redistributions compared to the neutral C(78) and the C(78) (6-) anion. An ionic model is not sufficient to describe the electronic, geometric and vibrational structure of the Sc(3)N@C(78) nitride cluster fullerene.

Electronic Structure and Redox Properties of the Open-Shell Metal−Carbide Endofullerene Sc3C2@C80: A Density Functional Theory Investigation

Density functional theory calculations have shown that the open-shell metal-carbide endofullerene Sc3C2@C80 has the valence state (Sc3+)3(C2)(3-)@C80(6-). A lot of low-lying isomers differing in geometries and locations of the endohedral [(Sc3+)3(C2)(3-)] cluster have been located, indicating unusual dual intramolecular dynamic behaviors of this endofullerene at room temperature. The electrochemical redox properties of this endofullerene have been elucidated in terms of electronic structure theory. Its redox states are found to follow the general charge-state formula (Sc3+)3C2(3-q)-@C80(6-) (q is the charge of the whole molecule ranging from +1 to -3), demonstrating the high charge flexibility of the endohedral metal-carbide cluster. The structure of the endohedral [(Sc3+)3C2(3-q)-)] cluster varies with the redox processes, shifting from a planar structure (for q = 0 and -1) to a trifoliate structure (for q = +1, -2, -3).

Dynamic charge fluctuation of endohedral fullerene with coencapsulated Be atom and H2

As one of the typical examples of characteristic reaction field generated in inclusion (enclosure) compounds, the dynamics of an endohedral metallofullerene, (Be+nH2)@C60(n=1,2), is studied with Be atom serving as a test probe. A very large dynamical and thermal fluctuation of electronic state of Be has been found, which is surprising since the highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gap of Be is so wide that such a large fluctuation in a low temperature is never expected. This finding demonstrates one of the special features of endohedral reaction field offered by the fullerene. The physical origin of this phenomenon is analyzed.

Ti2C80 is more likely a titanium carbide endohedral metallofullerene (Ti2C2)@C78

We show by means of density functional calculations that the previously synthesized metallofullerene Ti2C80 does not take the form of Ti2@C80, but is a titanium carbide endohedral metallofullerene, Ti2C2@C78, that has a C78(6-)(D3h) cage which follows faithfully the stable closed-shell electronic rule.