Buckminsterfullerene fragments used as hydrogen carrier: Case of corannulene derivatives

Abstract

Buckminsterfullerene fragments are interesting to use in hydrogen adsorption because of the suitable properties possessed by their concave structure. In the present paper, adsorption of hydrogen on the bowl-shaped corannulene and its derivatives is investigated. Both electron donor and electron acceptor are explored in the substitution and 28 derivatives are generated. DFT calculations are performed by means of WB97XD functional. The substitution number and the substitution nature of corannulene derivatives are analyzed through results based on several parameters. Besides bowl depth and equilibrium distance, also charge distribution and some reactivity indices, based on MEDT, are reported. Results show that a newly created charge distribution contributes to a better binding process.