Fullerene Faraday Cage Keeps Magnetic Properties of Inner Cluster Pristine

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that the magnetic properties of endohedral metallofullerenes (EMFs) are preserved when functionalized and placed on a gold surface, due to the ligand effect stabilizing the inner cluster at room temperature.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the stability of magnetic properties of EMFs on surfaces, highlighting the ligand effect in maintaining the inner cluster's charge and magnetization.

Findings

Inner cluster remains locked inside fullerene cage at room temperature

Charge state of the inner cluster remains constant

Magnetic properties are expected to be preserved

Abstract

Any single molecular magnets (SMM) perspective for application is as good as its magnetization stability in ambient conditions. Endohedral metallofullerenes (EMFs) provide a solid basis for promising SMMs. In this study, we investigated the behavior of functionalized EMFs on a gold surface (EMF-L-Au). Having followed the systems molecular dynamics paths, we observed that the chemically locked inner cluster inside fullerene cage will remain locked even at room temperature due to the ligand-effect. We have located multiple possible minima with different charge arrangements between EMF-L-Au fragments. Remarkably, the charge state of the EMF inner cluster remained virtually constant and so magnetic properties are expected to be untouched.