Single-Molecule Fullerenes: Current Stage and Perspective

Abstract

Single-molecule techniques can reveal new fundamental physical and chemical effects of matters at the single-molecule scale, and build functional devices based on molecular properties to achieve specific optoelectronic functions. So far, various molecules have been introduced into single-molecule junctions to investigate their unique properties at the single-molecule scale. Among them, fullerene molecules, as a unique class of functional materials, provide infinite opportunities for fabricating various singlemolecule devices. The combination of fullerenes and single-molecule electronic techniques not only realizes the discovery of new principles and new properties at the single-molecule scale, but also leads to the functionalization of single-molecule devices. This perspective discusses the properties of single fullerene molecules, such as charge transport, spin, nanomechanics, thermoelectricity, etc., introduces prototype functional devices based on the properties of single fullerene molecules, and provides directions for further research in this field.

Structure and single-molecule conductance of two endohedral metallofullerenes with large C88cage

“…Metallofullerenes are potential building blocks for constructing single-molecule devices considering their stable molecular structures, high electronic conductance, and adjustable energy levels. 6 Notwithstanding the recent advances in clarifying the single-molecule conducting behavior of metallofullerenes with small cage sizes, such as Gd@C 82 15 and Sc 3 N@C 80 , 16 there are few reports on the single-molecule conductance performance of higher metallofullerenes. Recently, we reported a metallofullertube, Ce 2 @C 100 .…”

“…[1][2][3] Owing to the charge transfer and complexation between metal clusters and carbon cages, many physical and chemical properties can be acquired. 4,5 This enables potential physical applications in single-molecule electronic devices, 6 quantum sensing, 7 etc. 8 Among these, endohedral cluster metallofullerenes such as metal nitride, metal carbide, metal oxide, metal sulfide, and metal carbonitride clusters have been reported extensively.…”

“…1–3 Owing to the charge transfer and complexation between metal clusters and carbon cages, many physical and chemical properties can be acquired. 4,5 This enables potential physical applications in single-molecule electronic devices, 6 quantum sensing, 7 etc . 8…”

“…Notably, metallofullerenes have potential applications in the fabrication of single-molecule devices because of their nanoscale structure, tunable physical and chemical properties, and considerably high single-molecule conductance. 6 Recently, several noteworthy results of metallofullerene-based devices have been published, such as the single-molecule electret of Gd@C 82 , 15 bi-thermoelectricity for Sc 3 N@C 80 , 16 logic-in-memory units of Sc 2 C 2 @ C s (hept)-C 88 , 17 and high single-molecule conductance for Ce 2 @C 100 . 18 In particular, the results of Ce 2 @C 100 demonstrate that metallofullerenes with large sizes would exhibit high conductivity.…”

U@Cs(4)-C82: A Different Cage Isomer with Reactivity Controlled by U-Sumanene Interaction

“…These EMFs have very diverse endohedral structures, which include various numbers of metal ions as well as versatile metal clusters. , The most fascinating features of EMFs are the interaction between the encaged species and fullerenes. The charge transfer and coordination effect between the encaged metal ions and carbon cages can essentially alter the electronic structures of the parent fullerene cages. ,, On the other hand, the chemical or physical modification of the fullerene cages can effectively penetrate the carbon cage and alter the motion and electronic structures of the endohedral species. , This unique interaction between the host fullerene cages and the guest endohedral species endows EMFs with some unique applications in the fields of biomedicine and molecular electronic devices. ,− …”