Iron in Endometallofullerenes

Abstract

We study the experimental and theoretical works concerned with the description of state-of-the-art methods for the preparation of iron-containing endohedral metallofullerenes (EMF), as well as works, which dispute such results due to the extremely low efficiency of the used methods. We discuss the features of traditional methods for the fabrication of endometallofullerenes, their advantages and disadvantages, and indicate the areas of possible application of the synthesis products. As shown, the EMF is obtained mainly by two methods, namely, arc discharge (plasma) and synthesis using ablation and implantation methods. Despite a very small number of works on iron endometallofullerenes, the group of authors achieved some progress in their analysis. Thus, the fact of obtaining the Fe-containing endometallofullerenes with their isolation from a mixture of synthesis products is proved. In addition, the influence of the magnetic state of metal atoms on the stability of endohedral fullerenes is predicted, a relationship between the EMF output and the plasma temperature as well as the chemical nature of the precursor of Fe atoms are established. Particularly, as found, with an increase of the group number in the periodic table, in which the metal is located, the EMF yield decreases exponentially. We conclude that, due to the magnetic properties of EMF, they are prospective materials in the field of clinical diagnostics (e.g., as a contrast agents in the magnetic resonance imaging) and medicine (for magnetically controlled delivery of drugs directly to a diseased organ).

Keywords

• endofullerene
• endometallofullerene
• iron-containing endofullerene
• magnetic state
• ablation
• implantation
• arc discharge
• synthesis
• precursor