title: Direct imaging of Sc2@C84 molecules encapsulated inside single-wall carbon nanotubes by high resolution electron microscopy with atomic sensitivity.
abstract: Intramolecular structure of the scandium dimetallofullerene (Sc(2)@C(84)) has been clearly revealed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy with the single-atom sensitivity. Direct observation of two Sc atoms inside each fullerene molecule has led to a successful determination of the molecular symmetry among the three possible structural isomers for the Sc(2)@C(84). The present work introduces a new electron microscopic approach to investigate individual molecular structures and demonstrates the possibility for determining the molecular isomer on a single-molecular basis.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, 305-8565, Japan. suenaga-kazu@aist.go.jp
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suenaga
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okazaki
authors.forename: C-R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bandow
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shinohara
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iijima