Am ajor handicap towards the exploitation of radicals is their inherent instability.I nt he paramagnetic azafullerenyl radical C 59 NC,t he unpaired electron is strongly localized next to the nitrogen atom, which induces dimerization to diamagnetic bis(azafullerene), (C 59 N) 2 .C onventional stabilization by introducing steric hindrance around the radical is inapplicable here because of the concave fullerene geometry. Instead, we developed an innovative radical shielding approach based on supramolecular complexation, exploiting the protection offered by a[ 10]cycloparaphenylene ([10]CPP) nanobelt encircling the C 59 NC radical. Photoinduced radical generation is increased by af actor of 300. The EPR signal showing characteristic 14 Nh yperfine splitting of C 59 NC& [10]CPP was traced even after several weeks,w hichc orresponds to alifetime increase of > 10 8 .The proposed approach can be generalized by tuning the diameter of the employed nanobelts,opening new avenues for the design and exploitation of radical fullerenes.
The complex of [10]cycloparaphenylene ([10]CPP) with bis(azafullerene) (C N) is investigated experimentally and computationally. Two [10]CPP rings are bound to the dimeric azafullerene giving [10]CPP⊃(C N) ⊂[10]CPP. Photophysical and redox properties support an electronic interaction between the components especially when the second [10]CPP is bound. Unlike [10]CPP⊃C , in which there is negligible electronic communication between the two species, upon photoexcitation a partial charge transfer phenomenon is revealed between [10]CPP and (C N) reminiscent of CPP-encapsulated metallofullerenes. Such an alternative electron-rich fullerene species demonstrates C -like ground-state properties and metallofullerene-like excited-state properties opening new avenues for construction of functional supramolecular architectures with organic materials.
Stable and abundant spin-1/2 species from azafullerene (C59N˙) supramolecularly hosted in [10]cycloparaphenylene nanohoops are operated as stable qubits, with possibility of qubit wiring via intermediate polymerized spin-redistributed states.
Double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) are fluorinated using (1) fluorine F2 at 200 °C, (2) gaseous BrF3 at room temperature, and (3) CF4 radio-frequency plasma functionalization. These have been comparatively studied using transmission electron microscopy and infrared, Raman, X-ray photoelectron, and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. A formation of covalent C–F bonds and a considerable reduction in the intensity of radial breathing modes from the outer shells of DWCNTs are observed for all samples. Differences in the electronic state of fluorine and the C–F vibrations for three kinds of the fluorinated DWCNTs are attributed to distinct local surroundings of the attached fluorine atoms. Possible fluorine patterns realized through a certain fluorination technique are revealed from comparison of experimental NEXAFS F K-edge spectra with quantum-chemical calculations of various models. It is proposed that fluorination with F2 and BrF3 produces small fully fluorinated areas and short fluorinated chains, respectively, while the treatment with CF4 plasma results in various attached species, including single or paired fluorine atoms and –CF3 groups. The results demonstrate a possibility of different patterning of carbon surfaces through choosing the fluorination method.
Endohedral metallofullerenes have been extensively studied since the first experimental observation of La@C60 in a laser-vaporized supersonic beam in 1985. However, most of these studies have focused on metallofullerenes larger than C60 such as (metal)@C82, and there are no reported purified C60-based monomeric metallofullerenes, except for [Li@C60]+(SbCl6)− salt. Pure (metal)@C60 compounds have not been obtained because of their extremely high chemical reactivity. One route to their stabilization is through chemical functionalization. Here we report the isolation, structural determination and electromagnetic properties of functionalized crystalline C60-based metallofullerenes Gd@C60(CF3)5 and La@C60(CF3)5. Synchrotron X-ray single-crystal diffraction reveals that La and Gd atoms are indeed encapsulated in the Ih-C60 fullerene. The HOMO-LUMO gaps of Gd@C60 and La@C60 are significantly widened by an order of magnitude with addition of CF3 groups. Magnetic measurements show the presence of a weak antiferromagnetic coupling in Gd@C60(CF3)3 crystals at low temperatures.
Density functional calculations are used to study the role of edge-functionalization on the structure and electronic properties of cycloparaphenylene (CPPs) containing from six to twenty benzenoid rings. We substitute hydrogen by the halogens fluorine, chlorine and bromine. The resultant Cyclotetrahalo-p-phenylenes are compared with their hydrogenated equivalents, related linear paraphenyl and fluoro-paraphenyl polymers, and functionalised armchair edges in graphene nanoribbons. Notably we consider both structural and electronic evolution. Finally we examine C60@[10]CPP, i.e. C60 encapsulated within [10]CPP, with the various ring terminations. The effect of halogenation on electronic level position around the gap strongly affects their capacity to form donor-acceptor pairs with fullerenes.
While changes in resonant Raman scattering measurements are commonly used to measure the effect of chemical functionalization on single-walled carbon nanotubes, the precise effects of functionalization on these spectra have yet to be clearly identified. In this density functional theory study, we explore the effects of functionalization on both the nanotube resonance energy and frequency shifts in radial breathing mode. Charge transfer effects cause a shift in the first Van Hove singularity spacings, and hence resonance excitation energy, and lead to a decrease in the radial breathing mode frequency, notably when the Fermi level decreases. By varying stochastically the effective mass of carbon atoms in the tube, we simulate the mass effect of functionalization on breathing mode frequency. Finally, full density functional calculations are performed for different nanotubes with varying functional group distribution and concentration using fluorination and hydrogenation, allowing us to determine overall effect on radial breathing mode and charge transfer. The results concur well with experiment, and we discuss the importance when using Raman spectroscopy to interpret experimental functionalization treatments.
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