The low temperature heat capacity of solutions of methane isotopes in fullerite C60. Isotope effects

TL;DR

This study investigates the heat capacity of methane isotope solutions in fullerite C60 from 1.4 to 120 K, revealing isotope effects on molecular motions and phase transitions.

Contribution

It provides detailed analysis of isotope effects on heat capacity and molecular dynamics in methane-fullerite solutions, highlighting differences in rotational and vibrational behaviors.

Findings

Isotope effects mainly due to differences in vibrational frequencies.

Rotational motion changes from libration to hindered rotation above 80K.

Phase transitions observed near 6 K and 8 K in the solutions.

Abstract

The heat capacity C(T) of the interstitial solid solution (CH4)0.4C60 has been investigated in the temperature interval 1.4-120 K. The contribution of CH4 molecules to the heat capacity has been separated. The contributions of CH4 and CD4 molecules to the heat capacity of the solutions (CH4)0.40C60 and (CD4)0.40C60 have been compared. It is found that above 80K the character of the rotational motion of CH4 and CD4 molecules changes from libration to hindered rotation. In the interval 14-35 K the heat capacities of CH4 and CD4 molecules are satisfactorily described by contributions of the translational and libration vibrations, as well as the tunnel rotation for the equilibrium distribution of the nuclear spin species. The isotope effect in heat capacity of CH4 and CD4 molecules is due, mainly, the difference in the frequencies of local tranlational and libration vibrations of molecules CH4 and CD4. The contribution of the tunnel rotation of the CH4 and CD4 molecules to the heat capacities of this gases is dominant below 8 K. The isotopic effect is caused by the difference between both the conversion rates and the rotational spectra of the nuclear spin species of CH4 and CD4 molecules. The conversion rate of CH4 molecules is several times lower than that of CD4 ones. Weak features observed in the curves of heat capacity of CH4 and CD4 near 6 K and 8 K, respectively, are most likely a manifestation of first-order phase transitions in the orientational glasses of these solutions.