A strategy toward isolation of ultra-unstable chemical species: Step-by-step insertion of atoms/molecules into fullerene inside

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H01737
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 28010:Nanometer-scale chemistry-related
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Ueno Hiroshi 東北大学, 学際科学フロンティア研究所, 助教 (00775752)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 村田 靖次郎 京都大学, 化学研究所, 教授 (40314273) ; 青柳 忍 名古屋市立大学, 大学院理学研究科, 教授 (40360838)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 内包フラーレン / 不安定化学種 / 分子手術 / プラズマ / フラーレン / ナノ炭素

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have established a method to construct unstable molecules/clusters at the inner space of fullerene, known as a highly inert environment. With this approach, now we can stabilize and therefore isolate various unstable chemical species that have been previously studied only in specific environments, in vacuum. By stabilizing the structure and physicochemical properties of these species, it becomes possible to explore and utilize their properties as stable bulk materials. For example, we successfully achieved on-site construction of Li+-H2O clusters inside C60, which have been traditionally studied in gas phase science. Through measurements in solid and solution phases, we demonstrated the detailed characterization of the structure and properties of these chemical species and their potential for practical applications.

Free Research Field

物理有機化学，ナノ材料科学，ナノ構造化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

安定化が困難な不安定分子は，気相実験や極低温下をはじめとする特殊な条件における実験の対象となっている。これらの実験によって得られる基礎的な知見は，反応デザイン，材料設計指針を与えうる点で重要であるが，直接物性応用へと繋げることは，安定性・単離の観点から極めて困難とされている。このような不安定分子を安定化する手法の開発（＝不安定な構造を如何に安定化するかという化学全般にわたる大課題に対する回答）は，未知の構造・物性相関を発見・理解・応用する上で重要な意義を持つ。