Electronic structure and electrical transport characteristics of C60, 2C60 and 4C60 fullerene molecules

The extended Hückel method and the Green’s function method were used to calculate the electronic structure and electrical transport of Au electrode-C₆₀, 2C₆₀ or 4C₆₀ fullerene-Au electrode systems. Furthermore, their electronic structure and electrical transport characteristics were compared and analyzed. The results show that (i) owing to the contact with the Au electrodes, the C₆₀, 2C₆₀ and 4C₆₀ molecules change in their electronic structures significantly, and their energy gaps between LUMO and HOMO are narrow; (ii) the bonding between C₆₀, 2C₆₀ or 4C₆₀ fullerene and Au electrodes is partially covalent and partially electrovalent; and (iii) the conductance of the three fullerenes conforms to the order of C₆₀ > 2C₆₀ > 4C₆₀. Translated from Journal of Materials Science and Engineering, 2006, 24(1): 53–56 [译自: 材料科学与工程学报]     

Electronic Structure of C60, CuPc, and C60/CuPc Nanoparticles and their Layers

The idea to form C₆₀/CuPc dispersed nanoheterojunctions by photoexcitation of a mixture of C₆₀ and CuPc nanoparticles has been realized. The electronic structure of the nanoparticles and dispersed nanoheterojunctions formed in the mixture has been characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy and the comparing with known experimental ultraviolet photoelectron spectra and theoretical models of electronic structure of these molecules. For the mixture of C₆₀ and CuPc nanoparticles in toluene and their coating layer on the quartz substrate the band offsets of the edges of CuPc VB and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of C₆₀ band are ΔE=1.55 eV and 1.4 eV, respectively. These results show clearly the presence of C₆₀/CuPc dispersed nanoheterojunctions in the solution and on the quartz surface.     

Transport Property of C60 and C70 Single Crystals

Since a few years ago, many studies have been carried out for C₆₀ single crystals in the interest of superconductivity¹⁾ and other physical and chemical properties as a new device material. Recently, such related properties have been also interested for C₇₀ single crystals. In order to clarify the mechanism of superconductivity of C₆₀ or to discover the superconductivity of C₇₀, it is necessary to investigate the fundamental transport properties of the non-doped single crystal. In this work, to compare those transport properties of non-doped C₆₀ and C₇₀ single crystals, temperature dependence of the resistance was measured for the both single crystals prepared by a sublimation method. Each activation energy for C₆₀ or C₇₀ at high temperature was determined and phase transition temperatures for the both were discussed.     

Characterization of Fullerenes Obtained from Boron Nitrite Containing Graphite Electrodes: Electronic Structure of C60-X-YBXNY and Deformed C60

The electronic structure of C₆₀ molecules with carbon substituted by other elements such as boron or nitrogen has been calculated for molecules in the singlet state with even number of electrons. Therefore, in the case of boron and nitrogen substituents, calculations have been performed for ionized molecules. The results obtained from our density functional calculations prove than in the C_60-x-yB_xN_y molecules both HOMO and LUMO levels are split due to the lower symmetry of the molecule Influence of deformation of C₆₀ molecules on electronic states, which is interesting because fullerenes may undergo deformation in solvate crystals, is also shown These C₅₉B and C₅₉N, as well as C₅₈BN molecules are of special interest because samples containing such species can be prepared The Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) in those samples differs from the results obtained in pure C₆₀ samples, it consists of several lines which are very sensitive to the temperature.     

Study of the Submerged Electric Arc in Hexane in Presence of C60 Fullerene

The effect of the electric arc between graphite electrodes submerged in n-hexane solutions of C₆₀ fullerene has been studied by electronic absorption spectroscopy, liquid chromatographic analysis (HPLC-DAD), and FT-IR spectroscopy. The experimental results show that C₆₀ does not appear able to inhibit the polyynes' formation at the concentration used. Polyynes are formed in large amounts as usual from the graphite arc, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have been detected as by-products. Prolonged arcing causes the disappearance of C₆₀ from the solution. There is experimental evidence that C₆₀ undergoes radical addition reactions during the early stages of arcing.     

Bromination of [60]Fullerene. II. Crystal and Molecular Structure of [60]Fullerene Bromides, C60Br6, C60Br8, and C60Br24

The crystal and molecular structures of the bromofullerene solvates C₆₀Br₆·0.5C₆H₅Cl·0.5Br₂, C₆₀Br₈·1.5(o-C₆H₄Cl₂), C₆₀Br₈·Br₂, C₆₀Br₈·0.5C₆H₅Br·0.5Br₂, and C₆₀Br₂₄·2Br₂ have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The molecular species C₆₀Br₆, C₆₀Br₈, and C₆₀Br₂₄ which have idealized C_s, C_2v , and T_h symmetries, respectively, have several different types of C-Br and C-C bonds. A comparison between different solvates of the same bromofullerenes revealed a larger stability of the packing modes for the C₆₀Br₆ and C₆₀Br₂₄ solvates, whereas the C₆₀Br₈ solvates showed different packing motifs dependent on the nature and amount of the solvent molecules.     

Loss of Chlorine from C60 and C70 Chlorides

Fullerene contents of chlorinated C₆₀ and C₇₀ were determined with HPLC. n-Values of C₆₀Cl_n and C₇₀Cl_n were determined from mass increase during synthesis, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, PIXE, Nuclear Microprobe (¹²C[d,p]¹³C), and Electron Microprobe analysis. n-Values obtained immediately after synthesis were in the range 31-45. Best values obtained later were in the range 10-20. It is suggested that (i) the samples lost CS₂ or CS₂/CCl₄, or Cl of “crystallization” after synthesis, (ii) after synthesis the samples lost Cl bound to C₆₀ (iii) Cl was lost during the analysis, or (iv) some of all three.     

Fullerane, the Hydrogenated C60 Fullerene: Properties and Astrochemical Considerations

Hydrogenated C₆₀ fullerene, C₆₀H₃₆ was prepared in different solvents using Zn/HCl as reducing agents. The structure of C₆₀H₃₆ was confirmed both by electronic and FT-IR spectroscopy and the purity of the reaction product was checked by HPLC analysis. It has been confirmed that C₆₀H₃₆ is not stable in air, especially in presence of light which enhances the oxidation. The oxidation of C₆₀H₃₆ was studied by FT-IR spectroscopy and by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in air; the formation of hydroxyl groups on the fullerene cage and ketonic groups (involving cage breakdown) have been detected. Furthermore, the action of O₃ on C₆₀H₃₆ was investigated and it has been found that O₃ exerts practically the same effect of air but causing an enhanced cage breakdown. The thermal stability of C₆₀H₃₆ was checked by a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) coupled with a differential thermal analysis (DTA) under N₂ flow. The vaporization of C₆₀H₃₆ occurs at very high temperature: the DTA trace has shown an endothermic peak at 540°C (at a heating rate of 20°C/min). C₆₀H₃₆ shows an electronic absorption spectrum with a maximum at about 217 nm and it is able to match both in position and in half width the peak at 217.5 nm observed in the spectrum of the interstellar extinction of light which was attributed to hydrogenated, radiation processed and thermally annealed carbon dust. Similarly, the absorption spectrum of C₆₀H₃₆ is able to match several infrared emission bands (called UIBs) detected from certain astrophysical objects like the protoplanetary nebulae (PPNe). It is proposed that hydrogenated fullerenes can be used as model compounds in the laboratory simulation studies of interstellar carbon dust.     

Spontaneous Decay of Highly-Charged Fullerene Ions C60Z and C58z

Using isotope-resolved, two sector field mass spectrometric techniques we have identified and investigated quantitatively the energetics and kinetics (in particular the kinetic energy release, KER) of the spontaneous decay reactions C_60-2m^z+ → C_60-2m-p(z-1)+ ₊ C_p⁺ with m = 0 or 1, z ranging from 3 to 6 and p = 2 and 4. The obtained KER results are not compatible with the properties expected for a single-step fissioning reaction as described by the liquid drop model. Therefore the present data had to be interpreted by a different fragmentation mechanism. This novel reaction sequence, termed auto charge transfer (ACT) reaction, is initiated by the statistically driven neutral C₂ (or C₄₎ evaporation followed by an electron transfer process from the receding C₂ (or C₄) fragment to the remaining highly-charged fullerene ion thereby leading finally to the two charged reaction products observed in the exit channel of the decay reaction. Moreover, in the case that a C₂⁺ loss from C₆₀z+ is occurring in the first field-free region we have been able to demonstrate that it is possible to observe in the second field-free region a subsequent C₂ evaporation from the C₅₈(z-1)⁺ fragment ion.     

ISOLATION AND CHARACTERISATION OF C60(CF3)2

From the products of reactions of [60]fullerene with either K₂PtF₆ at 470 °C or AgF at 520 °C, we have isolated C₆₀(CF₃)₂, the simplest trifluoromethylfullerene, which gives a single ¹⁹F NMR line at -69.5 ppm. The HPLC retention time is less than that of C₆₀F₂ confirming the trend observed for other fluoro- vs. trifluoromethylfullerenes namely that the latter elute more rapidly. Other trifluoromethyl- containing species, C₆₀(CF₃)₄O, C₆₀F₅CF₃, C₆₀(CF₃)₄H₂, C₆₀(CF₃)₆H₂, and C₆₀(CF₃H)₃ were detected in the product mixture.     

Localized Molecular Orbital Studies of Fullerenes: C60 and C70

Localized molecular orbitals (LMOs) have been calculated for C₆₀ and C₇₀ by using the CNDO/2 approximation and the energy-localization scheme of Edmiston-Ruedenberg. It is found that the π-bonding on the surfaces of the spherical carbon cages is localized into two-centered two-electron (2c2e) and three-centered two-electron (3c2e) bonds with additional charge distributions delocalized in the neighboring atoms. The localized electronic structures, the hybridized states of carbon atoms, the spherical aromaticity, and the reactivity for forming metal complexes of C₆₀ and C₇₀ are discussed.     

Growth and Characterization of C60 Crystals from Pure C60 and Fullerite

Good quality C₆₀ crystals have been grown from high purity C₆₀ powder and fullerene mixture (C₆₀/C₇₀) by vacuum sublimation method. The grown crystals were characterized with Optical microscopy, SEM, powder XRD, High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Raman spectroscopic analyses.     

Effect of Solvents and Supporting Electrolytes on the Electrochemical Properties of C70 and its Comparison with C60

Surrounding medium effect on the electrochemical properties of C₇₀ was studied in 9 single, 2 mixture solvents and 7 supporting electrolytes by cyclic. voltammetry in the temperature range between 260 and 288K. The obtained results were analyzed and compared with those of C₆₀. It was shown that, due to the different structure between C₇₀ and C₆₀, the degree of these medium effect on their reduction potential was different. The solvent effect on the reduction of C₇₀ was more significant than that of C₆₀; on the other hand, the solvophobic interaction between the larger cations of supporting electrolyte and C₇₀ anions was weaker than that between the same cations and C₆₀ anions. In addition, C₇₀ redox couple showed better reversibility when the supporting electrolyte contains larger cations. C₇₀ redox potentials were also measured as a function of temperature, and the entropy changes of C₇₀reduction were calculated.     

Addition Reactions of Benzyne, Dienes, Dichlorocarbene, and Oxygen to C60

Benzyne was found to add to C₆₀ in good yield to give C₆₀(C₆H₄)_n (n=1-4). Typical Diels-Alder dienes were also found to add to C₆₀ under thermally mild conditions. Adducts of C₆₀ with 2,3-dimethylbutadiene, cyclopentadiene, hexa-chlorocyclopentadiene, 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran, and anthracene were obtained. Further reactions of these products such as elimination and autooxidation reactions were investigated. Addition reaction of dichlorocarbene to C₆₀ gave C₆₁Cl₂. Oxidation of C₆₀ with m-chloroperbenzoic acid gave C₆₀O_n(n=1, 2). All of the products were isolated by means of HPLC and characterized by mass spectroscopy.     

HPLC Diode-Array Analysis of C60 and C70 Polymeric Fullerene Oxides (Fullerene Polymeric Ozonides)

It is shown by HPLC diode-array analysis that the C₆₀ and C₇₀ polymeric fullerene oxides ([C₆₀]-PFOs and [C₇₀]-PFOs) which are polymeric ozonides, are composed by nine different components. The ozonide derivatives of C₆₀ and C₇₀ have been proved to be practically analogous in chemical structure and composition. The most important component of both [C₆₀]-PFOs and [C₇₀]-PFOs accounts for about 3/4 of each sample. The overozonation of [C₆₀]-PFOs in methanol has been studied and shown to not produce any significant changes.     

Thermally Activated Decay Processes of Isolated Superhot C60 in Molecular Beams

We have studied thermally activated decay processes of an ensemble of isolated superhot C₆₀ molecules in molecular beams by several different methods. Highly vibrationally excited C₆₀ molecules in effusive or supersonic beams (with average vibrational energy of 10-20 eV) were generated in an all ceramic, two-stage high temperature nozzle source. the decay kinetics due to various decay processes of the initially canonical ensemble was followed by a mass spectrometric methods for a large range of initial temperatures (T_o=1100 - 1950 K). the processes studied are: (1) fragmentation (C₂ emission) of the neutral C₆₀ (2) C₂ emission from the C⁺₆₀ ions (3) black-body like radiative cooling, and (4) delayed electron emission. the experiments described here are: (a) Depletion of the integrated C₆₀ flux. (b) Analysis of C₆₀ time-of-flight distributions. (c) Dependence of electron impact induced ionization/ fragmentation of C₆₀ upon its initial thermal excitation, and (d) Thermal energy dependence of delayed electron emission. It is shown that thermal kinetics models using a single set of independently measured parameters uniquely reproduce all the experimental observations. the models take into account the different cooling processes and their time evolution. We analyze in detail the evolution of the initially canonical vibrational energy distribution during the flight time to the detector as it is gradually being distorted due to evaporative and radiative cooling mechanisms. It is concluded that the correct parameters to be used for describing the thermally activated decay kinetics of superhot C₆₀ are activation energy of E_o = 4.3 - 4.8 eV for the neutral fragmentation channel C₆₀ → C₅₈ + C₂ and E₁=4.0 - 4.3 for the ion fragmentation channel C⁺₆₀→ C⁺₅₈ + C₂, and corresponding pre-exponential factors of A_o = A₁ = 2.5 × 10¹³ sec^-1. the emissivity coefficient for black body like radiation was found to be ε = 4.5 × 10^-5.     

Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis of Trace Element Impurities in Graphite Soot, Gold Grade C60 and C70 and in Super Gold Grade C60

Actually the purity of fullerenes is in general characterized as the percentage of the main component (e.g. C₆₀) versus the higher fullerenes (e.g. C₇₀, etc.) and/or in a few cases of some other polycyclic organic components.

We are reporting here for the first time detailed data on trace element impurities in fullerene precursors and in the main fullerenes. For studying the element impurities instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was used. Our measurements have shown that all these materials contain trace elements at ppb (ng/g) ami ppm (μg/g) levels. From the results it comes (Hit that in the future investigations of the elemental purity of the C₆₀ and C₇₀, and even of the higher fullerenes would have to be also considered when their electrical, magnetic, etc. properties are studied.     

Radiation-Induced Trichloromethylation of C60 Fullerene in Carbon Tetrachloride

The radiolysis of C₆₀ in CCl₄ has been studied in detail from the organic chemistry point of view. Solutions of C₆₀ in CCl₄ have been treated with γ radiation at 25, 50, 150, and 600 kGy, and the resulting products have been studied by electronic absorption spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, solid state ¹³C-MAS-NMR and by thermogravimetric analysis. The products have also been separated by liquid chromatographic analysis (HPLC). C₆₀ undergoes a multiple trichloromethylation reaction and on average about 6 trichloromethyl radicals add to the fullerene cage. The trichloromethylation reaction is accompanied by the dimerization and trimerization of C₆₀ fullerene. Also the oligomers appear to be trichloromethyl-substituted.

For reference the C₆₀ solutions in CCl₄ have also been photolyzed with UV light. Similar product as those observed in the radiolysis experiment have been detected. The main difference is that the photolysis products appear both chlorinated and trichloromethylated while the radiolysis product appear almost exclusively trichloromethylated.     

Mechanical and electronic properties of C60 under structure distortion studied with density functional theory

B3PW91/6-31G density functional method was employed to investigate the elastic, strength and electronic properties of C₆₀(I_h) in its ground electronic state (X ¹A_g). Most of the properties were examined for larger structure distortions. The over-all elastic constant were derived from the near-equilibrium potential energy curves (PECs) in five independent directions [according to symmetries by 1. D_5d, 2. D_3d, 3. D_2h, 4. C_2h(1), 5. C_2h(2)]. By extension of the distortions as large as the structure of C₆₀ was destroyed, the necessary energies were obtained, which quantitatively illuminated the stability of C₆₀ theoretically. Analytical polynomial fit of the full PECs reproduced the energy data accurately. Time-dependent B3PW91/6-31G analysis showed significant electronic spectra changes associated with the structure distortions. Elongation in the direction of D_5d and compression in that of D_2h encountered potential energy surface cross-linkages, which might be considered as a single electron pump for further application in designs of single electron devices.     

Effect of Substituents on the Redox Potentials of C60 Derivatives

The electrochemical properties of four C₆₀ derivatives (compounds 1∼4) were investigated with cyclic voltammetry (CV), and compared with that of C₆₀. The reduction potentials of compound 1∼3 shifted to more negative positions than C₆₀, and their oxidation peaks appeared at the lower potentials. Significantly, the reduction potentials of compound 4 shifted to more positive positions than C₆₀, which is advantageous to form charge-transfer complexes with more donors. So the reduction properties in different solvents and in situ NIR absorption spectra of compound 4 were studied in more details. In addition, the AM1 molecular orbital calculation was performed on C₆₀ and compound 1∼4 for the explanation of the potential shifts. The reduction potentials of these compounds exhibited good linear relationships with the calculation LUMO or LUMO+1 energy levels.