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Lanthanum Nitride Endohedral Fullerenes La 3 N@C 2 n (43≤ n ≤55): Preferential Formation of La 3 N@C 96
Author(s) -
Chaur Manuel N.,
Melin Frederic,
Ashby Jarryd,
Elliott Bevan,
Kumbhar Amar,
Rao Apparao M.,
Echegoyen Luis
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.200800881
Subject(s) - fullerene , nitride , endohedral fullerene , metal , materials science , analytical chemistry (journal) , graphitic carbon nitride , crystallography , graphite , carbon nitride , nuclear chemistry , chemistry , nanotechnology , chromatography , organic chemistry , catalysis , layer (electronics) , photocatalysis
While the trimetallic nitrides of Sc, Y and the lanthanides between Gd and Lu preferentially template C 80 cages, M 3 N@C 80 , and while those of Ce, Pr and Nd preferentially template the C 88 cage, M 3 N@C 88 , we show herein that the largest metallic nitride cluster, La 3 N, preferentially leads to the formation of La 3 N@C 96 and to a lesser extent the La 3 N@C 88 . This is the first time that La 3 N is successfully encapsulated inside fullerene cages. La 3 N@C 2 n metallofullerenes were synthesized by arcing packed graphite rods in a modified Krätschmer–Huffman arc reactor, extracted from the collected soot and identified by mass spectroscopy. They were isolated and purified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Different arcing conditions were studied to maximize fullerene production, and results showed that yields have a high La 2 O 3 /C dependence. Relatively high yields were obtained when a 1:5 ratio was used. Three main fractions, La 3 N@C 88 , La 3 N@C 92 , and La 3 N@C 96 , were characterized by UV/Vis‐NIR and cyclic voltammetry. Unlike other trimetallic nitride metallofullerenes of the same carbon cage size, La 3 N@C 88 exhibits a higher HOMO–LUMO gap and irreversible reduction and oxidation steps.