Transformation of doped graphite into cluster-encapsulated fullerene cages

Marc Mulet-Gas, Laura Abella, Maira R. Cerón, Edison Castro, Alan G. Marshall, Antonio Rodríguez-Fortea, Luis Echegoyen (), Josep M. Poblet () and Paul W. Dunk ()
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Marc Mulet-Gas: Florida State University
Laura Abella: Universitat Rovira i Virgili
Maira R. Cerón: University of Texas at El Paso
Edison Castro: University of Texas at El Paso
Alan G. Marshall: Florida State University
Antonio Rodríguez-Fortea: Universitat Rovira i Virgili
Luis Echegoyen: University of Texas at El Paso
Josep M. Poblet: Universitat Rovira i Virgili
Paul W. Dunk: Florida State University

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract An ultimate goal in carbon nanoscience is to decipher formation mechanisms of highly ordered systems. Here, we disclose chemical processes that result in formation of high-symmetry clusterfullerenes, which attract interest for use in applications that span biomedicine to molecular electronics. The conversion of doped graphite into a C80 cage is shown to occur through bottom-up self-assembly reactions. Unlike conventional forms of fullerene, the iconic Buckminsterfullerene cage, I h-C60, is entirely avoided in the bottom-up formation mechanism to afford synthesis of group 3-based metallic nitride clusterfullerenes. The effects of structural motifs and cluster–cage interactions on formation of compounds in the solvent-extractable C70–C100 region are determined by in situ studies of defined clusterfullerenes under typical synthetic conditions. This work establishes the molecular origin and mechanism that underlie formation of unique carbon cage materials, which may be used as a benchmark to guide future nanocarbon explorations.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01295-9

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