Direct imaging of Sc2@C84 molecules encapsulated inside single-wall carbon nanotubes by high resolution electron microscopy with atomic sensitivity.
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.
Suenaga
K
K
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, 305-8565, Japan. suenaga-kazu@aist.go.jp
Okazaki
T
T
Wang
C-R
CR
Bandow
S
S
Shinohara
H
H
Iijima
S
S